Four modifiable and other major risk factors for cot death: the New Zealand study.
New Zealand's high mortality rate from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) prompted the development of the New Zealand Cot Death Study. A report of the analysis of the data from the first year has been published. This report now gives the major identified risk factors from the full 3 year data set. In this case-control study there were 485 infants who died from SIDS in the post-neonatal age group, and 1800 control infants, who were a representative sample of all hospital births in the study region. Obstetric records were examined and parental interviews were completed in 97.5% and 86.9% of subjects, respectively. As expected many risk factors for SIDS were confirmed including: lower socio-economic status, unmarried mother, young mother, younger school-leaving age of mother, younger age of mother at first pregnancy, late attendance at antenatal clinic, non-attendance at antenatal classes, Maori, greater number of previous pregnancies, the further south the domicile, winter, low birthweight, short gestation, male infant and admission to a special care baby unit. In addition, however, we identified four risk factors that are potentially amenable to modification.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mitchell
E A
EA
Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Taylor
B J
BJ
Ford
R P
RP
Stewart
A W
AW
Becroft
D M
DM
Thompson
J M
JM
Scragg
R
R
Hassall
I B
IB
Barry
D M
DM
Allen
E M
EM
D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002423:Cause of Death; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008423:Maternal Age; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*