Morbidity prevalence rate of kawasaki disease assessed by single cross-sectional history-taking.
The need for long-term follow-up in Kawasaki disease is poorly recognized although cardiac sudden death attacks asymptomatic young people with past illness after a long latent period. Therefore, in order to prevent cardiac disasters, high risk groups should be identified and the prevalence rate of the disease should be determined for crisis management. A total of 9,965 consecutive freshmen at the University of Tokyo were the subject of a questionnaire. Their parents/guardians who were briefed on the diagnostic criteria of the acute phase of Kawasaki disease actually completed the questionnaire. Students with a positive diagnosis underwent rest and exercise-stress electrocardiography and routine echocardiography. The overall prevalence rate was 0.57%. The rate in males (0.63%) was greater than that in females (0.32%) (P < 0.05). Electrocardiography and routine echocardiography identified no indices specific to a past illness of Kawasaki disease. The prevalence rate indicated that about 6 in 1000 students were high risk students who needed special care while at university. Since there are few symptoms and no signs indicating a past illness of Kawasaki disease, intensive history-taking from parents/guardians who are familiar with their acute symptoms during childhood is required in order to identify those at high risk of a coronary event.
Tsuji
Taeko
T
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki
Jun-ichi
J
Shimamoto
Ryoichi
R
Yamazaki
Tadashi
T
Ohomoto
Yuki
Y
Iwasawa
Kuniaki
K
Nagai
Ryozo
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014041:Tokyo