Increased prevalence of mitral stenosis in women

• Published in: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography Vol. 19; no. 7; p. 911
• Main Authors: Movahed, Mohammad-Reza, Ahmadi-Kashani, Mastaneh, Kasravi, Babak, Saito, Yuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2006
• Subjects: California - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve Stenosis - epidemiology; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment - methods; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Ultrasonography
• DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2006.01.017

The reported data in regard to increased prevalence of mitral stenosis (MS) in women are contradictory. The goal of this study was to investigate the sex-specific prevalence of MS as a surrogate for rheumatic heart disease. We retrospectively analyzed 24,265 echocardiograms performed at our institution between 1984 and 1998. The prevalence of MS as a surrogate of rheumatic heart disease was calculated based on sex. As a control, the prevalence of mitral regurgitation was evaluated in both sexes. Echocardiograms were performed on 12,926 female (53%) and 11,339 male (47%) patients. MS was significantly more prevalent in women (1.6% vs 0.4%, P < .001). The prevalence of mitral regurgitation was similar between the two sexes (24.4% in women vs 25% in men). Our study is the largest to date to find increased prevalence of MS in women. The cause of this association is not known.