Estimates from population studies of the prevalence of early-onset dystonia vary widely, ranging from as low as 7 per 100,000 to as high as 500 per 100,000.[3]Tarsy D, Simon DK. Dystonia. N Engl J Med. 2006 Aug 24;355(8):818-29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16928997?tool=bestpractice.com
[4]Defazio G, Abbruzzese G, Livrea P, et al. Epidemiology of primary dystonia. Lancet Neurol. 2004 Nov;3(11):673-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15488460?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Liu X, Luo X, Hu W. Studies on the epidemiology and etiology of moldy sugarcane poisoning in China. Biomed Environ Sci. 1992 Jun;5(2):161-77.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1642790?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Muller J, Kiechl S, Wenning GK, et al. The prevalence of primary dystonia in the general community. Neurology. 2002 Sep 24;59(6):941-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12297587?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]Nutt JG, Muenter MD, Aronson A, et al. Epidemiology of focal and generalized dystonia in Rochester, Minnesota. Mov Disord. 1988;3(3):188-94.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3264051?tool=bestpractice.com
Meta-analyses have calculated the prevalence of idiopathic ("primary") dystonia as 16-30 per 100,000, although this is likely to be an underestimate.[8]Steeves TD, Day L, Dykeman J, et al. The prevalence of primary dystonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mov Disord. 2012 Dec;27(14):1789-96.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23114997?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]Medina A, Nilles C, Martino D, et al. The prevalence of idiopathic or inherited isolated dystonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2022 Oct;9(7):860-8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9547134
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36247920?tool=bestpractice.com
[10]Defazio G. The epidemiology of primary dystonia: current evidence and perspectives. Eur J Neurol. 2010 Jul;17(Suppl 1):9-14.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20590802?tool=bestpractice.com
The prevalence is higher in specific subgroups, such as Ashkenazi Jews where it is estimated at 1110 per 100,000. When late-onset cases are included, estimates of the prevalence of dystonia range from 300 per 100,000 to as high as 732 per 100,000.[4]Defazio G, Abbruzzese G, Livrea P, et al. Epidemiology of primary dystonia. Lancet Neurol. 2004 Nov;3(11):673-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15488460?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Liu X, Luo X, Hu W. Studies on the epidemiology and etiology of moldy sugarcane poisoning in China. Biomed Environ Sci. 1992 Jun;5(2):161-77.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1642790?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Epidemiological Study of Dystonia in Europe (ESDE) Collaborative Group. A prevalence study of primary dystonia in eight European countries. J Neurol. 2000 Oct;247(10):787-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11127535?tool=bestpractice.com