Fetal heart rate patterns and sudden infant death syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine differences in electronic fetal monitoring patterns between infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome and controls.


METHODS
Case-control study (N = 127).


METHODS
A tertiary-level women's hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.


METHODS
Infants born between 1990 and 1998 who subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome and controls. Demographic and clinical data included medical maternal charts and fetal monitoring records.


RESULTS
Compared with controls (n = 98), the mothers whose infants subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome (n = 29) had lower birthweight babies (sudden infant death syndrome 2,840 vs. controls 3,385 g; p < .01), were younger (22 vs. 28 years; p < .01), were more likely to receive Medicaid health insurance (odds ratio 4.6; confidence interval 1.9-11.2), were more likely to be unmarried (odds ratio 5.2; confidence interval 2.1-12.8), had less intention to breastfeed (26% vs. 57%), and were more likely to smoke (odds ratio 4.6; confidence interval 9-11.2).


METHODS
There were no statistical differences in fetal heart rate variability or sleep/wake cycles detected between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistical differences were found in demographic characteristics between sudden infant death syndrome mother-infant couples and their controls. However, no differences were detected in the intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring records, specifically in variability and sleep/wake cycles.
Menihan
Cydney A
CA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. perinatalproductions@yahoo.com
Phipps
Maureen
M
Weitzen
Sherry
S
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D017533:Marital Status; D008423:Maternal Age; D008484:Medicaid; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*