Further evidence supporting a causal relationship between prone sleeping position and SIDS.
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.
Mitchell
E A
EA
Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Ford
R P
RP
Taylor
B J
BJ
Stewart
A W
AW
Becroft
D M
DM
Scragg
R
R
Barry
D M
DM
Allen
E M
EM
Roberts
A P
AP
Hassall
I B
IB
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*