Research Priorities in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: An International Consensus

Abstract

Despite the success of safe sleep campaigns and the progress in understanding risk factors, the rate of reduction in the cases of sudden infant death syndrome has now slowed and it remains a leading cause of postneonatal mortality in many developed countries. Strategic action is needed to tackle this problem and it is now vital to identify how the sudden infant death research community may best target its efforts. The Global Action and Prioritization of Sudden Infant Death Project was an international consensus process that aimed to define and direct future research by investigating the priorities of expert and lay members of the sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) community across countries. The aim was to identify which areas of research should be prioritized to reduce the number of SUID deaths globally. Scientific researchers, clinicians, counselors, educators, and SUID parents from 25 countries took part across 2 online surveys to identify potential research priorities. Workshops subsequently took place in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia to reach consensus and 10 priority areas for research were established. Three main themes among the priorities emerged: (1) a better understanding of mechanisms underlying SUID, (2) ensuring best practice in data collection, management and sharing, and (3) a better understanding of target populations and more effective communication of risk. SUID is a global problem and this project provides the international SUID community with a list of shared research priorities to more effectively work toward explaining and reducing the number of sudden infant deaths.

Infant care practices and parent uptake of safe sleep messages: a cross-sectional survey in Queensland, Australia

“…Infant mortality, specifically sleep-related infant deaths associated with suboptimal infant care practices, remains a universal priority. In a recent project to prioritise international SUDI research, Australian representatives identified 'developing and evaluating new ways to make safe sleep campaigns more effective' as a top research priority [62]. Findings from the I-CARE Qld Study provide vital information for stakeholders to move forward with this goal, assisting in the translation of current guidelines into contemporary, high quality, publicly accountable services, programs and policies that meet the needs of families to continue reducing sleep-related infant mortality.…”

The French prospective multisite registry on sudden unexpected infant death (OMIN): rationale and study protocol

“…To our knowledge, this is the first prospective registry specifically designed to respond to this issue even if large population-based registries with less variety of collected data already exist in other countries. 16 17 Because collaboration with such countries is imperative to share best practices, monitor progress and achieve statistical power for future investigations, 5 the OMIN involves as far as possible standardised data to facilitate international collaborations such as meta-analyses or original or replication studies.…”

“…An international consensus, The Global Action and Prioritization of Sudden Infant Death (GAPS) Project, has recently provided the international SUID research community with a list of shared research priorities to more effectively work toward explaining and reducing the number of sudden infant deaths. 5 Three main themes emerged: (1) a better understanding of mechanisms underlying SUID, (2) ensuring best practices in data collection, management and sharing and (3) a better understanding of target populations and more effective communication of known risk factors. To meet these challenges, the creation of innovative national SUID registries systematically collecting standardised data for every SUID case along with biological samples seems an essential prerequisite.…”

Un nuevo enfoque en pos del sueño seguro de los lactantes

“…, fue un proceso de consenso internacional que comenzó en 2015 con el objetivo de definir prioridades en el desarrollo de investigaciones para disminuir la tasa de muertes inesperadas de los lactantes. 6 Luego de tres rondas de discusión se llegó a la conclusión que necesitamos: 1. Comprender mejor los mecanismos biológicos involucrados en la muerte inesperada y su interacción con los factores ambientales, en diferentes edades y etapas de la maduración.…”