Kawasaki Disease in Infancy and Long-Term Body Mass Index Trajectories

Kawasaki disease (KD) is associated with long-term cardiovascular risks, raising concerns about future obesity. However, robust longitudinal data on body mass index (BMI) are lacking. This study investigated long-term BMI trajectories from childhood to early adolescence in children with a history of KD.

We conducted a secondary analysis of 19,642 children from a nationwide Japanese birth cohort, followed for 13 years. The exposure was parent-reported hospitalization for KD between 6 and 18 months of age. The outcome was membership in distinct BMI z-score trajectory groups identified using group-based multivariate trajectory modeling.

Three distinct BMI z-score trajectories were identified ("Stable," "High-Decreasing," and "Low-Increasing"). After multivariable adjustment, a history of KD was not associated with membership in any trajectory group for either males or females.

A history of KD in infancy was not associated with alterations in long-term BMI trajectories through early adolescence.