Incidence of Kawasaki disease in northern European countries

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

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.

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).

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.