title: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Epidemiology of the Muscular Dystrophies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of genetic muscle diseases with variable distribution of weakness and mode of inheritance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We previously performed a systematic review of worldwide population-based studies on Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies; the current study focused on the epidemiology of other muscular dystrophies using Medline and EMBASE databases. Two reviewers independently reviewed all abstracts, full-text articles, and abstracted data from 1985 to 2011. Pooling of prevalence estimates was performed using random-effect models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1104 abstracts and 167 full-text articles were reviewed. Thirty-one studies met all eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of combined muscular dystrophies was 16.14 (confidence interval [CI], 11.21-23.23) per 100,000. The prevalence estimates per 100,000 were 8.26 (CI, 4.99-13.68) for myotonic dystrophy, 3.95 (CI, 2.89-5.40) for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, 1.63 (CI, 0.94-2.81) for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, and 0.99 (CI, 0.62-1.57) for congenital muscular dystrophies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The studies differed widely in their approaches to case ascertainment, and substantial gaps remain in the global estimates of many other types of muscular dystrophies. Additional epidemiological studies using standardized diagnostic criteria as well as multiple sources of case ascertainment will help address the economic impact and health care burden of muscular dystrophies worldwide.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Jean K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korngut
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Kirsten M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fiest
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dykeman
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Lundy J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pringsheim
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jette
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049288:Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020391:Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Epidemiology; muscular dystrophies; population-based; prevalence systematic review