Weight gain and sudden infant death syndrome: changes in weight z scores may identify infants at increased risk.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate patterns of infant growth that may influence the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).


METHODS
Three year population based case control study with parental interviews for each death and four age matched controls. Growth was measured from prospective weight observations using the British 1990 Growth Reference.


METHODS
Five regions in England (population greater than 17 million, more than 470 000 live births over three years).


METHODS
247 SIDS cases and 1110 controls.


RESULTS
The growth rate from birth to the final weight observation was significantly poorer among the SIDS infants despite controlling for potential confounders (SIDS mean change in weight z score (deltazw) = -0.38 (SD 1.40) v controls = +0.22 (SD 1.10), multivariate: p < 0.0001). Weight gain was poorer among SIDS infants with a normal birth weight (above the 16th centile: odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1. 48-2.07, p < 0.0001) than for those with lower birth weight (OR = 1. 09, 95% CI 0.61-1.95, p = 0.76). There was no evidence of increased growth retardation before death.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor postnatal weight gain was independently associated with an increased risk of SIDS and could be identified at the routine six week assessment.
Blair
P S
PS
FSID Unit, Dept of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Children, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK.
Nadin
P
P
Cole
T J
TJ
Fleming
P J
PJ
Smith
I J
IJ
Platt
M W
MW
Berry
P J
PJ
Golding
J
J
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015430:Weight Gain