Incomplete clinical manifestation as a risk factor for coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease: a meta-analysis

Incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) comprises a large proportion of the total number of cases. Although it has the potential of delaying diagnosis, it is not conclusive whether an incomplete presentation is a risk factor for coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs). We performed a meta-analysis to establish the risk of CAA in 20 studies including 4,504 cases and 32,519 controls, and the risk of giant aneurysm in two studies including 5,390 cases and 37,648 controls. The pooled results indicated that incomplete KD was associated with an increased risk of CAA [odds ratio (OR) = 1.447, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.158–1.808, p = 0.001]. Subgroup analyses demonstrated higher associations in patients younger than 12 months (OR = 2.023, 95 % CI = 1.252–3.271, p = 0.004), Asians and Indians (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.234–1.999, p < 0.001 and OR = 7.088, 95 % CI = 1.640–30.631, p = 0.009, respectively). Subgroup analysis according to the period of patient enrollment before and after 2004 showed increased association of incomplete KD with CAA only among studies with patients enrolled after 2004 (OR = 1.969, 95 % CI = 1.240–3.127, p = 0.004). In conclusion, incomplete KD seems to be associated with an increased risk of CAA, and this is more prominent in patients younger than 12 months, Asians and Indians.