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

Yousra Arab, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Nadine Choueiter, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, 3415 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx, NY, 10467, USA.
Nagib Dahdah, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, CHU Ste-Justine, Université de Montréal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
Nermeen El-Kholy, Pediatric Cardiology Department, AlJalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Sima Y. Abu Al-Saoud, Department of Pediatrics, Makassed Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Al- Quds University, East-Jerusalem, Palestine.
Mohammed E. Abu-Shukair, Jordan Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology (JO-PAIR) Clinic, Amman, Jordan.
Hala M. Agha, Pediatric Cardiology Division, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hesham Al-Saloos, Division of Cardiology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
Khalfan Salim Al Senaidi, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
Raed Alzyoud, Pediatric Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology Division, Queen Rania Children's Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
Asma Bouaziz, Headmaster of Children and Neonatal Department, Hôpital Régional, Ben Arous, Tunisia.
Rachida Boukari, Pediatric Department, University Hospital Mustapha Bacha, Algiers University, Algiers, Algeria.
Mona M. El Ganzoury, Pediatric Cardiology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hala M. Elmarsafawy, Pediatric Cardiology Division, Children Hospital, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Najat ELrugige, Pediatric Cardiology Department, Benghazi Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya.
Zohra Fitouri, Unit of Rheumatology, Emergency and Outpatient Department, Pediatric Hospital of Béchir Hamza of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, 1007 Djebel Lakhedher Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mohamed S. Ladj, Pediatric Department, Djillali Belkhenchir University Hospital, Algiers, Algeria.
Pierre Mouawad, Pediatric Department, Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Aso F. Salih, Pediatric Cardiology Department/Children's Heart Hospital- Sulaimani College of Medicine- Sulaimani University, Al-Sulaimaniyah, Iraq.
Rocio G. Rojas, Clinical Research Program, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
Ashraf S. Harahsheh, Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, 111 Michigan Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. aharahsh@childrensnational.org.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-27-2022

Journal

Pediatric cardiology

DOI

10.1007/s00246-022-02844-w

Keywords

Arab; Cardiac complications; Kawasaki disease; Multicenter collaborative; Registry; 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.

Department

Pediatrics

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