Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Risk Factors and Newer Risk Reduction Strategies

Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) continues to be one of the top causes of infant death in the U.S. Despite significant public health initiatives focused on high-risk populations to enhance sleep environments and techniques. The SIDS rate has remained stable in recent years. Risk factors and newer risk reduction strategies for SIDS are the focus of this review article. We conducted a comprehensive literature search on Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar until July 2022. The following search strings and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms were used: "SIDS," "Sudden Infant Death" and "SUID". We explored the literature on SIDS for its epidemiology, pathophysiology, the role of various etiologies and their influence, associated complications leading to SIDS, and preventive and treatment modalities. Despite a more than 50% drop-in rates since the start of the "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1994, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) continues to be the top cause of post-neonatal mortality in the United States, despite continued educational initiatives that support safe sleep and other risk reduction strategies. The new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for lowering the risk of SIDS include a lot of emphasis on sleeping habits, bedding, and environment but also include elements that are frequently ignored (i.e., prenatal care, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and childhood vaccinations). This study highlights these less-frequently discussed aspects and identifies treatments that have produced beneficial behavioral shifts that benefit newborns as well as their mothers' health and wellbeing.

Sudden infant death syndrome as a result of thymic-lymphatic dysgenesis

“…Later, a theory was developed (1942, Pende) of "constitutional hyperthymic syndrome" or "Pende syndrome", a condition characterized by an increase in the volume and activity of the thymus from birth, macrosomia and poor development of the genitals during puberty [16]. However, some scientists have insisted that since the thymus is affected within a few days after the disease, it reaches large sizes only if the patient dies suddenly [1,17].…”

“…The prevalence of SIDS in the world is 0.2-1.5 cases per 1000 children. Sudden death in children (without sudden cardiac death syndrome) accounts for 5-10% of all child deaths, which is about 1.3-4.0 per 100,000 population [1]. Thus, the average mortality rate from SIDS per 1000 births is: in Japan -0.25, the Netherlands -0.3, Russia -0.4, Great Britain -2.3, Germany -1.6, Austria -1.0, Italy -0.5, the USA -2.8, in Russia -0.43 per 1000 children [2].…”

Respiratory Dysfunction in Epileptic Encephalopathies: Insights and Challenges

“…The VRG regulates both the expiratory and inspiratory phases of respiration. Modifications in this specific area might lead to inefficient or superficial respiratory patterns, which can be detected as erratic breathing in persons with epileptic encephalopathies [ 14 ]. The respiratory centers in the pons, specifically the pneumatic and apneustic centers, play a crucial role in regulating the shift from inspiration to expiration.…”

Knowledge, attitudes and practice on sudden infant death: study protocol of a scoping review

“…But still even in developed countries the incidence is high and out of 100 000 live births, at least 1389 died from SIDS with less than 12 months of life. 4 In the USA, estimates have shown that SIDS accounts for 90% of mortality in children up to the 6th month of life. These data prompted several other studies on the risk of SIDS and the need of increasing the population’s knowledge about this event.…”