Mitral stenosis epidemiology


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.; Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D.[mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]

Overview
In developed countries, the prevalence of mitral stenosis continues to decline as the prevalence of rheumatic fever declines. Currently, the estimated incidence in the United States is 1:100,000. The incidence in higher in developing countries.

Developed countries

 * Despite a decline in rheumatic fever, rheumatic disease remains the major cause of mitral valve stenosis. The prevalence of rheumatic disease in developed nations is steadily declining. In United States the prevalence rate is less than 5 per 100,000 persons . This could be attributed to the introduction of penicillin or a change in the virulence of the Streptococcus.


 * In countries with low prevalence of rheumatic disease, mitral stenosis may be congenital . Though the incidence is low, these patients have high mortality rates.

Developing countries
Developing countries have higher rates of rheumatic fever and consequently higher rates of mitral stenosis with prevalence of more than 10 cases per 1,000 in India and 4-10 cases per 1,000 in China, Russia, Africa and Australia.

Sex
Though rheumatic fever occurs in equal numbers in males and females, two thirds of all patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis are females.

Age
Rheumatic fever is a disease of childhood. Mitral stenosis usually becomes symptomatic in the third or fourth decade of life.