Key result
Female sex is linked to ~13-point higher prevalence of rheumatic mitral stenosis than male sex.
Why the study?
Mitral stenosis is the most common valvular lesion in rheumatic heart disease and may vary in frequency and severity between males and females.
Cross-Sectional (n=142)
No
Absolute Event Rate: 56.3% vs 43.7%
This study confirms that rheumatic mitral stenosis remains a significant burden in Pakistan, disproportionately affecting females and commonly presenting as moderate to severe disease in individuals aged 50-60 years.
May inform sex-stratified screening in rheumatic heart disease; leaves open whether gender influences progression or outcomes.
Background: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) remains a major public health problem in developing countries and is a leading cause of valvular heart disease among young and middle-aged individuals. Mitral stenosis (MS) is the most common valvular lesion associated with RHD and may vary in frequency and severity between males and females. Objective: To determine the frequency of mitral stenosis among patients with rheumatic heart disease and compare its occurrence and severity between male and female patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. A total of 142 patients aged 15–60 years with confirmed rheumatic heart disease were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected from hospital records and echocardiography reports and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The Chi-square test was applied to assess gender-based differences, with a p-value ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 142 patients, 80 (56.3%) were females and 62 (43.7%) were males, indicating a higher prevalence of rheumatic mitral stenosis among females. Mild mitral stenosis was observed in 47 (33.1%) patients, moderate in 50 (35.2%), and severe in 45 (31.7%). Females demonstrated a slightly higher frequency of both mild and severe mitral stenosis compared to males. The most common age group affected was 50–60 years (22.5%). Shortness of breath (64.8%) and fatigue (57.0%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Overcrowding (57.7%) and previous streptococcal infection (54.9%) were the leading risk factors identified. Conclusion: Mitral stenosis is a common manifestation of rheumatic heart disease and occurs more frequently in females than males. Female patients also showed a slightly greater burden of severe disease. Early detection, timely treatment of streptococcal infections, and improved access to healthcare may help reduce the burden of rheumatic mitral stenosis and its complications.
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Jehan et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Rheumatic Heart Disease with Mitral Stenosis (n=142). Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Frequency of rheumatic mitral stenosis. Rheumatic mitral stenosis was more frequently observed in female patients (56.3%) compared to male patients (43.7%), with females also demonstrating a slightly higher burden of severe disease.
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