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Sudden unexpected infant death characteristics in the French region of West Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Background: Although the incidence of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) has decreased since the 'Back to Sleep' campaign in English-speaking countries and other preventive campaigns, the circumstances of such deaths remain unclear. Aim: To analyse infant deaths recorded at the referral...
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Published in: | Paediatrics and international child health 2019-04, Vol.39 (2), p.104-110 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background: Although the incidence of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) has decreased since the 'Back to Sleep' campaign in English-speaking countries and other preventive campaigns, the circumstances of such deaths remain unclear.
Aim: To analyse infant deaths recorded at the referral centre for sudden infant death of the West Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France (West PACA) and the forensic medicine department of Marseille University Hospital.
Methods: Information on all SUID cases from 2000 to 2017 was extracted from the referral centre for sudden infant deaths in West PACA and the forensic medicine department of Marseille.
Results: The study included 130 infants over the 17 years with a very similar distribution. There was a marked male preponderance, with 61.6% of boys whatever the age at death (sex ratio 1.6). Half of the deaths occurred in the first 6 months of life and the majority (61%) of infants died during autumn and winter. Nearly one-third (33.2%) had presented with minor infections and 21% had been seen by a doctor or had been admitted to hospital. Most deaths (86.4%) occurred during sleep (night or day). Nearly half of the infants (47.7%) were discovered in a prone position. A large majority of parents (90.7%) agreed to a post-mortem examination. Only 6.2% of deaths led to legal proceedings. Nearly 16.9% remained unexplained after compiling all the data included in the protocol and 9.2% remained unexplained because of incomplete investigation, including refusal of post-mortem examination. Abuse was involved in 2.3% of cases.
Conclusions: Asymptomatic infectious conditions were associated with a high proportion of SUID cases. Non-supine sleep positions were still practised. There is a need to increase SUID prevention campaigns.
Abbreviations: HAS, Haute Autorité de Santé: French National Health Authority; NICHD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; PACA, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France; SUID, sudden unexpected infant death; SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; CépiDc, Centre d'Epidémiologie sur les Causes Médicales de Décès/Center for Epidemiology on the Medical Causes of Death |
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ISSN: | 2046-9047 2046-9055 |
DOI: | 10.1080/20469047.2018.1533734 |