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ObjectiveWith the emergence of experimental therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), it is fundamental to understand the natural history of this disorder to properly design clinical trials. The aims of this study were to assess the effects produced on motor function by different DMD genotypes and early initiation of glucocorticoids.MethodsThrough the NorthStar Network, standardised clinical data including the NorthStar Ambulatory Assessment score (NSAA) on 513 ambulant UK boys with DMD were analysed from 2004 to 2012. For the analysis of the genetic subpopulation, we also included data from 172 Italian boys with DMD. NSAA raw scores were converted into linear scores.ResultsOn the linearised NSAA, we observed an average decline of 8 units/year (4 units on raw NSAA analysis) after age 7. The median age at loss of ambulation (LOA) was 13 years (95% CI 12.1 to 13.5); 2 years prior to LOA, the estimated mean linearised NSAA score was 42/100 (13/34 raw scale). Starting glucocorticoids between 3 and 5 years conferred an additional gain in motor function of 3 units/year (1.3 raw units) up to age 7. When analysing the effect of genotype in the UK and Italian cumulative cohorts, individuals with deletions amenable to exons 44 and 46 skipping declined at a slower rate over 2 years (9 units (4 raw units), p<0.001), while 53 and 51 skippable deletions showed a faster decline of 14 (4.5; p<0.001) and 5 linearised units (2.4 NSAA units; p=0.02), respectively.ConclusionsOur study provides a novel insight on the current natural history of DMD, which will be instrumental for the design of future clinical trials.

Objective To assess the current use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the UK, and compare the benefits and the adverse events of daily versus intermittent prednisolone regimens. Design A prospective longitudinal observational study across 17 neuromuscular centres in the UK of 360 boys aged 3–15 years with confirmed Duchenne muscular dystrophy who were treated with daily or intermittent (10 days on/10 days off) prednisolone for a mean duration of treatment of 4 years. Results The median loss of ambulation was 12 years in intermittent and 14.5 years in daily treatment; the HR for intermittent treatment was 1.57 (95% CI 0.87 to 2.82). A fitted multilevel model comparing the intermittent and daily regiments for the NorthStar Ambulatory Assessment demonstrated a divergence after 7 years of age, with boys on an intermittent regimen declining faster (p<0.001). Moderate to severe side effects were more commonly reported and observed in the daily regimen, including Cushingoid features, adverse behavioural events and hypertension. Body mass index mean z score was higher in the daily regimen (1.99, 95% CI 1.79 to 2.19) than in the intermittent regimen (1.51, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.75). Height restriction was more severe in the daily regimen (mean z score −1.77, 95% CI −1.79 to −2.19) than in the intermittent regimen (mean z score −0.70, 95% CI −0.90 to −0.49). Conclusions Our study provides a framework for providing information to patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their families when introducing GC therapy. The study also highlights the importance of collecting longitudinal natural history data on patients treated according to standardised protocols, and clearly identifies the benefits and the side-effect profile of two treatment regimens, which will help with informed choices and implementation of targeted surveillance.

Functional variability among boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is well recognised and complicates interpretation of clinical studies. We hypothesised that boys with DMD could be clustered into groups sharing similar trajectories of ambulatory function over time, as measured by the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) total score. We also explored associations with other variables such as age, functional abilities, and genotype. Using the NorthStar Clinical Network database, 395 patients with >1 NSAA assessment were identified. We utilised latent class trajectory analysis of longitudinal NSAA scores, which produced evidence for at least four clusters of boys sharing similar trajectories versus age in decreasing order of clinical severity: 25% of the boys were in cluster 1 (NSAA falling to ≤ 5 at age ~10y), 35% were in cluster 2 (NSAA ≤ 5 ~12y), 21% in were cluster 3 (NSAA≤ 5 ~14y), and 19% in cluster 4 (NSAA > 5 up to 15y). Mean ages at diagnosis of DMD were similar across clusters (4.2, 3.9, 4.3, and 4.8y, respectively). However, at the first NSAA assessment, a significant (p<0.05) association was observed between earlier declining clusters and younger age, worse NSAA, slower rise from supine, slower 10 metre walk/run times, and younger age of steroid initiation. In order to assess the probability of observing complete loss of function for individual NSAA items, we examined the proportion of patients who shifted from a score of 1 or 2 at baseline to a score of 0. We also assessed the probability of gain of function using the inverse assessment and stratified the probability of deterioration, improvement-or static behavior-by age ranges and using baseline functional status. Using this tool, our study provides a comprehensive assessment of the NSAA in a large population of patients with DMD and, for the first time, describes discrete clusters of disease progression; this will be invaluable for future DMD clinical trial design and interpretation of findings.

BackgroundGlucocorticosteroids (GC) are standard-of-care treatment for most boys with duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). GC use has changed over time with evolving evidence, and we describe GC patterns, dosing and side-effects in the UK over 11 years.MethodNorthStar data from 2012 to 2022 were analysed to understand GC type, regime and starting age. GC dose with age, patterns of GC switching and side-effect profiles by type and regime were also analysed. Participants attributed to ‘other’ regimes were queried and details were included.ResultsData on GC usage were available for 1117 boys, across 6905 observations, with 74% of boys GC treated. Prednisolone was the most common regime in the period (65% of assessments) but deflazacort prescription has increased (17% in 2012 and 43% in 2022). Daily regimes were more common (66% of assessments), and the incidence of intermittent (10 days on/10 days off) regimes has declined (46% in 2012 and 26% in 2022). Older participants were more commonly on less than recommended doses, and this was more common in those on deflazacort or daily regimes. Gastrointestinal symptoms and cushingoid features were more common in those on deflazacort than prednisolone, while increased appetite, cushingoid features, gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia were more common in those on daily than intermittent regimes.ConclusionsThe use of deflazacort and daily regimes has steadily increased across the UK North Star Network in the last decade. This study provides one of the largest up-to-date real-world set of data of evolution in prescription patterns and the occurrence of side-effects in different groups of GC-treated DMD.

Background Standard treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) includes regular physiotherapy. There are no data to show whether adding aquatic therapy (AT) to land-based exercises helps maintain motor function. We assessed the feasibility of recruiting and collecting data from boys with DMD in a parallel-group pilot randomised trial (primary objective), also assessing how intervention and trial procedures work. Methods Ambulant boys with DMD aged 7–16 years established on steroids, with North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) score ≥8, who were able to complete a 10-m walk test without aids or assistance, were randomly allocated (1:1) to 6 months of either optimised land-based exercises 4 to 6 days/week, defined by local community physiotherapists, or the same 4 days/week plus AT 2 days/week. Those unable to commit to a programme, with >20% variation between NSAA scores 4 weeks apart, or contraindications to AT were excluded. The main outcome measures included feasibility of recruiting 40 participants in 6 months from six UK centres, clinical outcomes including NSAA, independent assessment of treatment optimisation, participant/therapist views on acceptability of intervention and research protocols, value of information (VoI) analysis and cost-impact analysis. Results Over 6 months, 348 boys were screened: most lived too far from centres or were enrolled in other trials; 12 (30% of the targets) were randomised to AT ( n  = 8) or control ( n  = 4). The mean change in NSAA at 6 months was −5.5 (SD 7.8) in the control arm and −2.8 (SD 4.1) in the AT arm. Harms included fatigue in two boys, pain in one. Physiotherapists and parents valued AT but believed it should be delivered in community settings. Randomisation was unattractive to families, who had already decided that AT was useful and who often preferred to enrol in drug studies. The AT prescription was considered to be optimised for three boys, with other boys given programmes that were too extensive and insufficiently focused. Recruitment was insufficient for VoI analysis. Conclusions Neither a UK-based RCT of AT nor a twice weekly AT therapy delivered at tertiary centres is feasible. Our study will help in the optimisation of AT service provision and the design of future research. Trial registration ISRCTN41002956

This prospective, open-label, randomized study compared the outcomes in hypertensive subjects 65 to 84 years of age who received therapy with angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretic agents. The rate of cardiovascular events or death from any cause was lower among male subjects who received ACE inhibitors. In older persons an ACE inhibitor may improve outcomes. Placebo-controlled studies of the drug treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension have demonstrated that the reduction of blood pressure is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and death. 1 – 7 This benefit was first shown with diuretics, beta-blockers, or both as initial therapy. 1 – 6 Since those studies were conducted, newer classes of antihypertensive agents, including angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium-channel antagonists, and angiotensin II antagonists, have become widely accepted into practice. When our study began, no data were available indicating whether therapy involving these newer agents would have the same benefit in persons with hypertension. However, evidence of a benefit of treatment . . .