title: Increased prevalence of mitral stenosis in women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is the largest to date to find increased prevalence of MS in women. The cause of this association is not known.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Irvine, California, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Movahed
authors.forename: Mastaneh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi-Kashani
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasravi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography