The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in healthy men and women in Sweden. An echocardiographic study.

An asymptomatic population of 100 women and 101 men was studied with M-mode echocardiogram to determine the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). One of the two patterns characteristic for MVP was found in 8% of the females and 7% of the males. The diastolic mitral valve excursion was significantly higher in the MVP group (p less than or equal to 0.001). A typical M-mode pattern in combination with a high mitral valve excursion probably enhances the diagnostic specificity.