Mitral regurgitation epidemiology and demographics


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Overview
The incidence of mitral regurgitation is approximately 2% in a modern Western population. In the past, rheumatic heart disease was the leading cause of mitral regurgitation in Western countries, but now mitral valve prolapse is the leading cause and accounts for 45% of cases in Western countries. In Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, and among some immagrant populations in the US, rheumatic heart disease remains the leading cause of mitral regurgitation.

Sex
Overall, mitral regurgitation affects both males and females equally. However, there are some minor imbalances when age is considered. In patients younger than 20 years, there is a male preponderance, and the severity of involvement is greater in males over the age of 50.

Age
Mitral regurgitation is one of the two most common valvular heart disease in the elderly, and is the most common form of valvular insufficiency. Among patients over the age of 55, 20% will have mitral regurgitation. The most common cause in the developed world is mitral valve prolapse and in the developing world is rheumatic heart disease. The mean age of presentation in patients with rheumatic heart disease is 36 years.