Epidemiology of Kawasaki Disease After the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan 2023-2024

JAMA Network Open 2026 Open access

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Authors: Ryusuke Ae, Koki Kosami, Hiroya Masuda, Naoto Kato, Takahide Kohro, Mitsuru Seki, Yoshihide Shibata, Tohru Kobayashi, Masanari Kuwabara
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.26910
Cited by: 1
References: 43

Abstract

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a natural experiment, with pandemic-associated changes in the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) potentially informing understanding of KD pathogenesis. Objectives: To assess long-term KD incidence across 50 years and to examine pandemic-associated changes in KD epidemiology across age groups. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was a descriptive epidemiologic analysis of data from the Japanese Nationwide Survey of Kawasaki Disease conducted from 2023 to 2024, along with 50 years of historical data. Data were included from patients with KD in the current 2023-2024 survey (n = 29 841) and historical and current survey data from 1975 through 2024 (n = 467 456) for trend analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Annual KD incidence overall and stratified by 3 age groups: infants (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Kawasaki Disease and Coronary Complications COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction

Publication details

Journal / source
JAMA Network Open
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Volume
9
Issue
8
Pages
e2626910–e2626910
Publication date
4 August 2026
Language
EN