title: Relationship between the cumulative incidence of Kawasaki disease and the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in birth-year cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kawasaki disease (KD) causes systemic vasculitis and coronary aneurysms. It frequently results in electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities of short duration. Cardiac sequelae persist beyond the acute stage in a few patients. There are many areas to be investigated concerning the effects on the vascular system of patients suffering from KD and its sequelae.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cumulative incidences of KD and its cardiac sequelae were calculated in birth-year cohorts, using data obtained from KD nationwide surveys. The results were compared with the prevalence of ECG abnormalities detected in cardiac examinations conducted at primary and secondary schools for each birth-year cohort. This comparison allowed observation of relationships in these trends for each birth-year cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cumulative incidence of late-stage cardiac sequelae gradually declined. However, there were increases in the cumulative incidence of ECG abnormalities and in the cumulative incidences of KD and acute-stage cardiac disorders related to KD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that even among children without late cardiac sequelae, KD can have a persistent effect on the cardiovascular system. It thus appears necessary to extend clinical observation of children with a history of KD, even if they developed only acute-stage cardiac lesions.
authors.affiliation: Kouno Clinic, Fukui, Japan. k-m-kawai@sun.vipa.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yashiro
authors.forename: Yosikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services
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