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Risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths differ by age
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Risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths, such as bed-sharing and objects in the sleep area, differ among different age groups, according to study findings in Pediatrics.
Jeffrey D. Colvin, MD, JD, of Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo., and colleagues assessed data from the National Center for the Review and Prevention of Child Deaths Case Reporting System, a database of reports of individual child death. Deaths that occurred during sleep or in the sleep environment among children younger than 1 year between 2004 and 2012 were included.
Infants were categorized into two age groups; those younger than 4 months and those aged 4 months to 364 days.
Of the 8,207 infants included in the study, 69.2% were bed-sharing, defined as sleeping on the same surface with a person or animal, at the time of death. An estimated 74% of younger infant deaths were associated with bed-sharing compared with 58.9% of older infants.
Approximately half of all deaths occurred in an adult bed or on a person, with a higher percentage occurring among the younger age group. Thirty-four percent of older infant deaths occurred in a crib, bassinet or playpen vs. 24.6% of younger infant deaths.
An object was found in the sleep environment of approximately one-third of infant deaths. An estimated 40% of older infant deaths had at least one object in the sleep environment vs. 33.5% of younger infants. Deaths in the older age group were more likely to be associated with the presence of blankets, stuffed toys, bags, hard furniture and cords.
The most common sleep position among both age groups was the supine position, accounting for 39.7% of infants. A higher percentage of younger infants were placed on their side or stomach compared with older infants; 37.3% vs. 28.7%.
The most common position associated with infant deaths was prone. An estimated 40% of younger infant deaths were associated with back and side positions, whereas older infants were more commonly found prone (42.2%). A higher percentage of older infant deaths were associated with a change in sleep position from back/side to stomach or stomach to back/side. Older infants change sleep positions more frequently than younger infants (18.4% vs. 13.8%).
“Sleep environment risk factors for infants may be different for different age groups. … Parents should be warned about the dangers of bed-sharing, particularly in 0- to 3-month-old infants. … Parents should be reminded that cribs should be clear of any objects, so that … there is no risk of rolling into something that may create an asphyxia environment,” the researchers concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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