Improving survival in Duchenne muscular dystrophy across eras: a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis.

What was studied

This review looked at survival trends in Duchenne muscular dystrophy over time. In the past, people often died young. Death was mainly from lung failure. Home mechanical ventilation and team care have improved survival. The review pooled median survival from studies in PubMed from 1977 to 13 October 2025. It used random-effects models. Risk of bias was rated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

What they found

The review included 53 studies with more than 13,000 patients. Median follow-up was 8 years. Median survival was 29 years in ventilated people. It was 19 years in people not ventilated. Survival improved over time in both groups. Glucocorticoids were not linked to better survival. Heart failure drugs were linked to longer survival. These included renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and beta-blockers. Death shifted from lung causes to heart causes.

What it means for patients

The authors say survival in Duchenne has risen a lot over time. They say heart and other non-lung causes of death are growing. They say long-term team care and early heart protection are important.

Why it is not certain yet

This pooled study-level data, not individual patients. The studies came from different eras. Links between heart drugs and survival are not proof of cause. The abstract notes that variability in survival remains. It gives no results by drug dose.

Source

Improving survival in Duchenne muscular dystrophy across eras: a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis.

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