EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SYMPTOMATIC MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE IN BLACK PATIENTS

This study analyzed the charts of 743 black patients who visited the e mergency room of a Nashville Hospital with symptoms of chest pain, pal pitation, or fatigue. One hundred sixty-five met the criteria for the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Epidemiologic factors of sym ptomatic MVP in blacks (ie, symptoms reported based on age and sex) we re examined to determine whether there are significant differences in the prevalence of symptomatic MVP with relation to black males and fem ales. Similarities were found in the patterns of the ages of both male s and females and the symptoms that were reported. No significant diff erences were found between black males and females, which does not sup port previous findings.