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Comparative Study
. 2012 Dec;54(6):770-2.
doi: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2012.03692.x. Epub 2012 Oct 8.

Incidence of Kawasaki disease in northern European countries

Eeva Salo  1 , Elizabeth P Griffiths, Teresa Farstad, Bodil Schiller, Yosikazu Nakamura, Mayumi Yashiro, Ritei Uehara, Brookie M Best, Jane C Burns
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Incidence of Kawasaki disease in northern European countries

Eeva Salo et al. Pediatr Int. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the epidemiologic features of Kawasaki disease (KD) in three northern European countries and Japan.

Methods: Data were obtained from discharge databases for hospitals in Finland, Norway, and Sweden for 1999-2009 and from nationwide epidemiologic surveys in Japan for 1998-2008. Annual incidence for each country was calculated using regional census data.

Results: During the 11 year period, 1390 KD patients were recorded in the registries of the three northern European countries. Average annual incidence rates per 100,000 children aged <5 years were: Finland, 11.4; Norway, 5.4; and Sweden, 7.4. Overall, 86.4% of Japanese KD patients were aged <5 years compared to only 67.8% in the four northern European countries (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The incidence of KD in northern Europe was constant over the study period and much lower than in Japan. There was a significant age difference between northern European and Japanese KD patients that remains unexplained.

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Conflict of interest statement

COMPETING INTERESTS

None to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Annual incidence of Kawasaki disease in Northern European countries from 1999–2009 expressed as number of cases per 100,000 children less than 5 years of age.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age distribution of Kawasaki disease patients in Northern European countries (A) and compared to Japan (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age distribution of Kawasaki disease patients in Northern European countries (A) and compared to Japan (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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