title: Trends with corticosteroid use in males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy born 1982-2001.
abstract: This study examines trends in corticosteroid use for males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy by birth year, race/ethnicity, and knowledge of Duchenne muscular dystrophy family history. Firstborn males (n = 521) selected from a population-based surveillance system of Duchenne muscular dystrophy were analyzed using Kaplan Meier and regression methods. Comparing males born 1982 to 1986 with males born 1997 to 2001, steroid use increased from 54% to 72% and mean age at steroid initiation decreased from 8.2 to 7.1 years. Hispanics and non-Hispanic Black males used steroids less frequently and delayed initiation compared to white males. Compared to males without a Duchenne muscular dystrophy family history, males with known family history were half as likely to use steroids. Duration of steroid use increased over time and age at initiation decreased. Racial/ethnic disparities exist for steroid use and should be addressed to improve outcome and quality of life for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA djf03@health.state.ny.us.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, State University of New York at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
authors.forename: A Gregory
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: DiRienzo
authors.affiliation: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oleszek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; age of treatment initiation; health disparities; length of use; steroids