title: Further evidence supporting a causal relationship between prone sleeping position and SIDS.
abstract: A 3 year case-control study identifying the risk factors for SIDS was undertaken. Preliminary analysis of the data from the first year suggested that SIDS mortality could fall by 50% if the prevalence of the prone sleeping position changed from 40 to 0%. During the 3 year study the prevalence of the prone sleeping position among infants has fallen from 43% in the first year to 20% in the third year. SIDS mortality has fallen to 3.1/1000 live births, which is very close to that predicted. When considered with other available evidence this strongly supports a causal relationship between the prone sleeping position and SIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Becroft
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scragg
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hassall
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016684:Prone Position; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*