Seasonal Variations of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in Japan: A Study on Long-Term Trends and the Influence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate seasonal trends in the onset of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in Japan and evaluate the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including severe cases and vaccination campaigns, on disease onset.

Design

A retrospective cohort study using clinical records and public health data.

Participants

A total of 320 Japanese VKH patients with a known month of onset who were initially treated at Yokohama City University Hospital between April 2007 and March 2024.

Methods

The monthly distribution of VKH onset cases was assessed using the Roger test to determine seasonality before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Severe COVID-19 case data (April 2020 to March 2024) were obtained from government sources. The COVID-19 vaccin

SUBMITTER: Mizuki Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494803 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature