[Risk factors of sudden infant death and of death by accidents. According to a national survey in the total postneonatal death].
BACKGROUND
The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) peaks at 2-4 month of age and during the colder months of the year. Other risk factors such as sex, birth weight, maternal age and multiple pregnancy also seem to be shared by the other causes of death after the neonatal period.


METHODS
A retrospective, exhaustive survey of all deaths of infants aged 28 days-one year was carried out between September 1986 to December 1987. The control group was a representative sample of the live births in France during 1989. The deaths were classified into 3 groups: group I, 1184 SIDS, group II 228 SIDS remaining unexplained after autopsy (out of 315 autopsied SIDS), and group III 83 accidental deaths. The factors studied were: sex, birth weight, maternal age, number of infants born from the pregnancy. The risk factors were measured by Odds Ratios and the variables related to mortality were introduced into a logistic model.


RESULTS
Incidence of deaths peaked between the 2nd and the 4th month of age in groups I and II while deaths were evenly distributed throughout the first year in group III. Colder months, male gender, low birthweight, multiple birth and the young age of the mother all increased the risk of death in SIDS (groups I and II) but the same factors were also linked to accidental deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm those of earlier reports and raise the question why the risk factors for accidental deaths are similar to those for explained or unexplained SIDS, except for infant age.
Hausherr
E
E
INSERM U149, Villejuif.
Bouvier-Colle
M H
MH
Varnoux
N
N
Hatton
F
F
Bréart
G
G
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology*
Facteurs de risque de la mort subite du nourrisson et des décès par accidents. D'après une enquête nationale sur l'ensemble des décès post-néonatals.