Ms. Zua et Sf. Dziegielewski, EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SYMPTOMATIC MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE IN BLACK PATIENTS, Journal of the National Medical Association, 87(4), 1995, pp. 273-275
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.