OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of sudden unexplained death in children 1-4 years old (SUDC) in Ireland and to compare the epidemiological profile of SUDC with that of SIDS. DESIGN: All cases of sudden unexplained death in children <5 years in Ireland between 1994 and 2008 were reviewed. Epidemiological information obtained from parental questionnaires and post-mortem reports was examined, and data on cases ≥52 weeks compared with cases <52 weeks. RESULTS: SUDC accounted for 5% (n=44) of deaths in children aged 1-4 years during 1994-2008. During this period, the SIDS rate dropped from 0.71 to 0.34 per 1000 live births, while the SUDC rate increased from 0.08 to 0.18 deaths per 10 000 population aged 1-4 years. The median age of SUDC cases was 71.5 weeks, and the male/female ratio was 1.3:1. All died during a sleep period, 71% between 10pm and 8am, and more than two-thirds were found prone. Fewest cases occurred during July-September (11%), and a greater proportion occurred at weekends (55%). 52% (17/33) had symptoms (any) in the 48 h before death, and 35% (11/31) visited their general practitioner because of illness in the week preceding death. SUDC differed from SIDS in prevalence of maternal smoking (38% vs 72%, p<0.001), bed-sharing (17% vs 49%, p<0.001), and whether found prone (72% vs 23%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: While SUDC shares some characteristics with SIDS, there are also some important differences. Further data collection will help determine whether SIDS and SUDC represent the same pathophysiological entity. Standardisation of protocols for investigating sudden deaths is urgently required for accurate diagnosis of cases.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of sudden unexplained death in children 1-4 years old (SUDC) in Ireland and to compare the epidemiological profile of SUDC with that of SIDS. DESIGN: All cases of sudden unexplained death in children <5 years in Ireland between 1994 and 2008 were reviewed. Epidemiological information obtained from parental questionnaires and post-mortem reports was examined, and data on cases ≥52 weeks compared with cases <52 weeks. RESULTS: SUDC accounted for 5% (n=44) of deaths in children aged 1-4 years during 1994-2008. During this period, the SIDS rate dropped from 0.71 to 0.34 per 1000 live births, while the SUDC rate increased from 0.08 to 0.18 deaths per 10 000 population aged 1-4 years. The median age of SUDC cases was 71.5 weeks, and the male/female ratio was 1.3:1. All died during a sleep period, 71% between 10pm and 8am, and more than two-thirds were found prone. Fewest cases occurred during July-September (11%), and a greater proportion occurred at weekends (55%). 52% (17/33) had symptoms (any) in the 48 h before death, and 35% (11/31) visited their general practitioner because of illness in the week preceding death. SUDC differed from SIDS in prevalence of maternal smoking (38% vs 72%, p<0.001), bed-sharing (17% vs 49%, p<0.001), and whether found prone (72% vs 23%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: While SUDC shares some characteristics with SIDS, there are also some important differences. Further data collection will help determine whether SIDS and SUDC represent the same pathophysiological entity. Standardisation of protocols for investigating sudden deaths is urgently required for accurate diagnosis of cases.
Authors: Marco M Hefti; Jane B Cryan; Elisabeth A Haas; Amy E Chadwick; Laura A Crandall; Felicia L Trachtenberg; Dawna D Armstrong; Marjorie Grafe; Henry F Krous; Hannah C Kinney Journal: Forensic Sci Med Pathol Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Anne T Berg; Katherine Nickels; Elaine C Wirrell; Ada T Geerts; Petra M C Callenbach; Willem F Arts; Christina Rios; Peter R Camfield; Carol S Camfield Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2013-06-10 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Hannah C Kinney; Torleiv O Rognum; Eugene E Nattie; Gabriel G Haddad; Bruce Hyma; Betty McEntire; David S Paterson; Laura Crandall; Roger W Byard Journal: Forensic Sci Med Pathol Date: 2012-09-01 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Marco M Hefti; Hannah C Kinney; Jane B Cryan; Elisabeth A Haas; Amy E Chadwick; Laura A Crandall; Felicia L Trachtenberg; Dawna D Armstrong; Marjorie Grafe; Henry F Krous Journal: Forensic Sci Med Pathol Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Dominique F Leitner; Declan McGuone; Christopher William; Arline Faustin; Manor Askenazi; Matija Snuderl; Melissa Guzzetta; Heather S Jarrell; Katherine Maloney; Ross Reichard; Colin Smith; Victor Weedn; Thomas Wisniewski; Laura Gould; Orrin Devinsky Journal: Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol Date: 2021-07-16 Impact factor: 8.090