Sleep position and SIDS in Irish infants.
A retrospective case-controlled study has compared the frequency of different sleeping positions in a group of 97 SIDS infants and a group of 98 control infants. The results show a clear excess of SIDS deaths among Irish infants sleeping in the prone (lying on abdomen) position with the risk of a SIDS increased 2.3 fold comparing prone to side and 10.5 fold comparing prone to back positions. Among the SIDS group 79% of infants were lying prone when found dead compared to 25% of the control group (chi square = 64.3, p < 0.001) with only 7% and 9% sleeping on their sides and backs respectively (control group 48% and 27% respectively). Irish parents should be advised to avoid placing infants in the prone position (on abdomen) to sleep as this position is associated with a significantly increased risk of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Gormally
S
S
Dept of Paediatrics, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.
Matthews
T G
TG
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*