The incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the South East of Scotland

In a survey carried out to determine the incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the South East of Scotland, 47 cases were ascertained among 177,413 live male births for the years 1953 to 1968. The overall incidence is 1 case in 3,775 live male births (26.5 ± 3.2 × 10--3). This incidence figure has been compared with those reported in nine other studies, and any differences appear likely to be due to varying degrees of ascertainment. So far there is no evidence of any decrease in incidence of the disease in S.E. Scotland as a result of genetic counselling and antenatal foetal sexing.