Swedish Nationwide Study Found That Prematurity Was Associated With Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

Aim

Our aim was to identify perinatal and parental risk factors for Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods

Swedish patient and population registers were used to identify children diagnosed with KD and unaffected matched controls from 1987 to 2018. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) following exposure to perinatal and parental factors.

Results

We identified 1645 cases (61% male) and 15 463 matched controls. The median age of KD diagnoses was 2.6 years. Preterm birth was significantly associated with increased odds of developing KD (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.53), particularly for children diagnosed before 1 year of age (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.15–2.86). Prenatal maternal smoking was also associated with diagnoses before 1 year of age and the risk was increased in males if their mothers were 35 years of age or older at the time of delivery. The risk was higher among children of Asian or African descent. Perinatal factors had a higher impact on the risk of KD in children with Asian parents.

Conclusion

Prematurity was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing KD. Other risks were prenatal maternal smoking, advanced maternal age, and being of Asian or African descent.