title: Sudden unexplained early neonatal death or collapse: a national surveillance study.
abstract: The incidence of sudden unexpected early neonatal death (SUEND) or acute life-threatening events (ALTEs) is reported as 0.05/1,000 to 0.38/1,000 live births. There is currently no national system in Australia for reporting and investigating such cases.
  
  
  
  A 3-y prospective, national surveillance study, run in collaboration with the Australian Pediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU). Data were provided by pediatricians reporting to APSU; and independently ascertained by the Coroner in two states (NSW and QLD) and the Newborn Early Transport Network in NSW. A detailed deidentified questionnaire was created.
  
  
  
  In NSW and QLD, the incidence was 0.1 and 0.08/1,000 live births, respectively. Forty-eight definitive cases were identified. Common causes included accidental asphyxia, cardiac disease, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and sudden infant death syndrome. Twenty-six babies collapsed on day 1 and 19 were found on the carer's chest.
  
  
  
  The incidence in NSW and QLD is higher than previously published. The first postnatal day is a vulnerable period for newborns, who require close observation particularly during skin-to-skin contact. Development and implementation of guidelines for safe sleeping in hospital are needed. Collaboration between obstetricians, midwives, and pediatricians is essential to ensure safety of the newborn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.|The Department of Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia.|Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.|The Department of Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders; D066087:Perinatal Death; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires