An 8 year study of risk factors for SIDS: bed-sharing versus non-bed-sharing.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear if it is safe for babies to bed share with adults. In Ireland 49% of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases occur when the infant is bed-sharing with an adult.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of bed-sharing during the last sleep period on risk factors for SIDS in Irish infants.


METHODS
An 8 year (1994-2001) population based case control study of 287 SIDS cases and 831 controls matched for date, place of birth, and sleep period. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by conditional logistic regression.


RESULTS
The risk associated with bed-sharing was three times greater for infants with low birth weight for gestation (UOR 16.28 v 4.90) and increased fourfold if the combined tog value of clothing and bedding was > or =10 (UOR 9.68 v 2.34). The unadjusted odds ratio for bed-sharing was 13.87 (95% CI 9.58 to 20.09) for infants whose mothers smoked and 2.09 (95% CI 0.98 to 4.39) for non-smokers. Age of death for bed-sharing and sofa-sharing infants (12.8 and 8.3 weeks, respectively) was less than for infants not sharing a sleep surface (21.0 weeks, p<0.001) and fewer bed-sharing cases were found prone (5% v 32%; p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for SIDS vary according to the infant's sleeping environment. The increased risk associated with maternal smoking, high tog value of clothing and bedding, and low z scores of weight for gestation at birth is augmented further by bed-sharing. These factors should be taken into account when considering sleeping arrangements for young infants.
McGarvey
C
C
National Sudden Infant Death Register, George's Hall, The Children's University Hospital, Temple St, Dublin 1, Ireland. cliona.mcgarvey@tsch.ie
McDonnell
M
M
Hamilton
K
K
O'Regan
M
M
Matthews
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001513:Beds / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016684:Prone Position; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution