Increased Prevalence of Mitral Stenosis in Women

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.