Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) leads to progressively worsening physical disability. Death often occurs by age 25, typically from lung disorders. However, advances in supportive care have resulted in many men living much longer than this.Specific common causes of death include:
Cardiomyopathy (can also occur in female carriers, who should also be screened)
Congestive heart failure (rare)
Deformities
Heart arrhythmias (rare)
Mental impairment (varies, usually minimal)
Permanent, progressive disability, including decreased mobility and decreased ability to care for self
Pneumonia or other respiratory infections
Respiratory failure
