Prevalence of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in China: A population-based echocardiographic analysis of 8080 adults

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in China. METHODS: This epidemiologic investigation was performed in 8080 adults from nine communities across nine provinces in China from October 2001 to February 2002, using a multistage, random sample design. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was defined as nondilated ventricular hypertrophy, documented by echocardiography, that was not caused by any known cardiac or systemic disease. RESULTS: Of the 4064 men and 4016 women who were screened, 13 (0.16%; 9 men and 4 women) had definite echocardiographic evidence for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence was about 80 per 100,000 adults. CONCLUSION: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not rare in China. Based on the estimated prevalence, there are at least 1 million cases in China. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica Inc.