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Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), affecting 1 in 3,500 male births, is associated with reduced life expectancy and increased fracture risk, yet contributing factors and their impact on quality of life remain unclear. This study examined fracture prevalence and its relationship to health-related quality of life in 57 children with DMD at Shriners Hospital, Portland. Surveys using PedsQL and chart reviews were analyzed with multivariable regression. Fractures occurred in 30% of participants and were linked to lower functional quality of life scores (p=0.05) and marginally lower emotional scores (p=0.06). Potential fracture risk factors included ambulatory status and recent functional decline. Findings suggest fractures negatively affect quality of life, highlighting the need for preventive strategies targeting disuse-related bone loss and further research on DMD’s impact on bone remodeling.