Evidence of reduced frequency of spinal muscular atrophy type I in the Cuban population

The authors reviewed all cases of type I spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in Cuba over a 6-year period. The incidence of SMA type I was 3.53 per 100,000 livebirths. When the population was classified according to self-reported ethnicity, the incidence was eight per 100,000 for whites; 0.89 per 100,000 for blacks, and 0.96 per 100,000 for those of mixed ethnicity. Type 1 SMA may occur less frequently in individuals of African ancestry.