Evaluation of mitral valve parameters with gender and age in the Pakistani population: A 2-dimensional echocardiographic study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to assess variations in mitral valve echocardiographic parameters in relation to gender and age using transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography in a subset of the Pakistani population. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months (March–August 2024) at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, enrolling 385 individuals who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mitral valve echocardiographic parameters were measured using transthoracic 2D echocardiography and recorded on subject evaluation forms. Variations across gender and four age groups (18–30, 31–45, 46–65, and >65 years) were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Among 385 participants, 182 males and 203 females were examined. Posterior leaflet length was significantly greater in males than in females (p = 0.012), while all other parameters — annular diameter, annular area, anterior leaflet length and thickness, and posterior leaflet thickness — showed no statistically significant difference between genders. No parameter showed a statistically significant difference across age groups; posterior leaflet thickness did not reach statistical significance across age groups (p = 0.069). Conclusion: In the Pakistani population, posterior leaflet length is significantly greater in males than in females. No statistically significant age-related differences were observed across any mitral valve parameter. These findings indicate a need for gender-specific reference values in echocardiographic assessment of the mitral valve in this population.