Kawasaki Disease Arab Initiative [Kawarabi]: Establishment and Results of a Multicenter Survey

Abstract

Studies on Kawasaki disease (KD) in Arab countries are scarce, often providing incomplete data. This along with the benefits of multicenter research collaboratives led to the creation of the KD Arab Initiative [Kawarabi] consortium. An anonymous survey was completed among potential collaborative Arab medical institutions to assess burden of KD in those countries and resources available to physicians. An online 32-item survey was distributed to participating institutions after conducting face validity. One survey per institution was collected. Nineteen physicians from 12 countries completed the survey representing 19 out of 20 institutions (response rate of 95%). Fifteen (79%) institutions referred to the 2017 American Heart Association guidelines when managing a patient with KD. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is not readily available at 2 institutions (11%) yet available in the country. In one center (5%), IVIG is imported on-demand. The knowledge and awareness among countries’ general population was graded (0 to 10) at median/interquartiles (IQR) 3 (2–5) and at median/IQR 7 (6–8) in the medical community outside their institution. Practice variations in KD management and treatment across Arab countries require solid proactive collaboration. The low awareness and knowledge estimates about KD among the general population contrasted with a high level among the medical community. The Kawarabi collaborative will offer a platform to assess disease burden of KD, among Arab population, decrease practice variation and foster population-based knowledge. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00246-022-02844-w.

Kawasaki disease in children from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2012–2020): a single-centre retrospective clinical case series

“…However, previous research reported Asian ethnicity as a KD risk factor in Hawaii (50.4/100 000 children <5 years of age)1 and in other Asian populations worldwide 6. In line with previous work, we observed that most patients presented with typical (complete) KD7 and there were a higher number of cases in winter similar to seasonal peaks in Japan,1 Saudi Arabia4 and the USA 1. Cardiac involvement is the most important feature of KD and CAA developed in ~25% of untreated patients 1.…”

“…The recently proposed KD Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) should provide future data to help improve the diagnosis, care and outcomes of children with KD across different Arab nations and ethnicities. 7…”

“…Our study suggests that the clinical presentation of KD in the UAE is similar to that of other patients in the Middle East (table 2) and also from East Asian, European and North American countries. The recently proposed KD Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) should provide future data to help improve the diagnosis, care and outcomes of children with KD across different Arab nations and ethnicities 7…”

Access to Care and Therapy for Kawasaki Disease in the Arab Countries: A Kawasaki Disease Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) Multicenter Survey:

“…Kawasaki Disease Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) was established to identify the impact of KD on cardiovascular health in the Arab world and address the challenges faced by physicians caring for children with KD in that region [4] . This survey shows signi cant heterogeneity in the care for children with KD between large, industrialized cities and rural areas.…”

Kawarabi: Administrative Structuring of a Multicenter Research Collaborative to Study Kawasaki Disease in the Arab Countries

“…10 Furthermore, according to literature from Arab nations, there are limited data on the resources available for acute management and lifelong surveillance of KD. 6,7,11,12 The Kawasaki Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) established in 2021 13 is a multicenter consortium that fosters collaboration between KD experts and maintains an active registry of KD patients to understand the epidemiology of KD and disease burden in the Arab world, including mortality and long-term morbidities in children and adults. This initiative also seeks to raise awareness of KD in the medical community and among the general population.…”