AUTHOR=Chen Thomas Yen-Ting , Chou Mei-Chia , Lai Jung-Nien , Chiu Lu-Ting , Chang Renin , Hung Yao-Min , Wei James Cheng-Chung 

TITLE=Non-Typhoidal Salmonella and the Risk of Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.701409

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.701409

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between non-typhoidal <italic>Salmonella</italic> (NTS) infection and the risk of Kawasaki disease (KD) by using a nationwide population-based data set in Taiwan.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 69,116 patients under 18 years of age, with NTS from January 1<sup>st</sup>, 2000, to December 31<sup>st</sup>, 2013, using the population-based National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. A comparison group without NTS was matched (at a 1:4 ratio) by propensity score. The two cohorts were followed from the initial diagnosis of NTS until the date of KD development or December 31<sup>st</sup>, 2013. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for covariates. Also, we conducted sensitivity analyses to examine our findings.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>After adjusting for covariates, the risk of KD for the children with NTS was significantly higher than that of the comparison group (hazard ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.66; p &lt; 0.01). Stratified analysis showed that the associated risk of the investigated outcome was significant in children aged ≤2 years (aHR= 1.31, 95% C.I. 1.02-1.69), in female patients (aHR= 1.46, 95% C.I. 1.03-2.08), and in those without allergic diseases.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>NTS is associated with an increased risk of KD in Taiwanese children.</p></sec>