Epidemiologic picture of Kawasaki disease in Korea, 2000-2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and epidemiologic patterns of Kawasaki disease in Korea for a 3 year period during 2000 to 2002.

An epidemiologic survey on Kawasaki disease was retrospectively performed. The questionnaire was sent to all 112 hospitals having pediatric residency programs, and obtained data were analyzed.

The 9150 cases of Kawasaki disease from 92 hospitals which responded (response rate, 82.1%) included 5515 males and 3635 females (male : female ratio, 1.52:1). The incidence rate per 100,000 children <5 years old was 73.7 in 2000, and increased to 90.8 in 2001, and 95.5 in 2002 (average rate, 86.4). The monthly number of patients was slightly higher in May, June and July. Their mean age of onset, the proportion of sibling cases, and a rate of recurrent cases were 30.5 months, 0.17%, and 2.9%, respectively. Coronary arterial abnormalities occurred in 18.6% of cases including dilatations of 17.3% and aneurysms of 3.1%.

The average annual incidence, 86.4/100 000 in children <5 years old is the second highest rate in the world.