Lyndal Bugeja1,2, Jeremy Dwyer3, Sara-Jane McIntyre3, Jeanine Young4, Karen Lesley Stephan5, Roderick John McClure6. 1. Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. lyndal.bugeja@monash.edu. 2. Coroners Court of Victoria, Southbank, VIC, 3006, Australia. lyndal.bugeja@monash.edu. 3. Coroners Court of Victoria, Southbank, VIC, 3006, Australia. 4. University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia. 5. Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. 6. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is general agreement that in some circumstances, sharing a sleep surface of any kind with an infant increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy. There is a paucity of research conducted in Australia examining this issue. This study examines the frequency and distribution of sleep-related infant deaths in a defined population, and reports the proportion that occurred in the context of bed-sharing. METHODS: A retrospective population-based case series study was conducted of infants (≤365 days) who died in a sleeping context during the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 in the state of Victoria, Australia. Information about the infant, caregiver, sleeping environment and bed-sharing was collected from a review of the coroner's death investigation record. RESULTS: During the 3-year study period, 72 infant deaths occurred in a sleeping context. Of these, 33 (45.8 %) occurred in the context of bed-sharing: n = 7 in 2008; n = 11 in 2009; and n = 15 in 2010. Further analysis of the 33 deaths occurring in the context of bed-sharing showed that in this group, bed-sharing was largely intentional, habitual and most often involved the mother as one of the parties. CONCLUSIONS: Given the case series nature of the study design, a causal relationship between bed-sharing and infant death could not be inferred. However the fact that nearly half of all sleep-related deaths occurred in the context of bed-sharing, provides strong support for the need to undertake definitive analytic studies in Australia so that evidence-based advice can be provided to families regarding the safety of bed-sharing practices.
BACKGROUND: There is general agreement that in some circumstances, sharing a sleep surface of any kind with an infant increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy. There is a paucity of research conducted in Australia examining this issue. This study examines the frequency and distribution of sleep-related infantdeaths in a defined population, and reports the proportion that occurred in the context of bed-sharing. METHODS: A retrospective population-based case series study was conducted of infants (≤365 days) who died in a sleeping context during the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 in the state of Victoria, Australia. Information about the infant, caregiver, sleeping environment and bed-sharing was collected from a review of the coroner's death investigation record. RESULTS: During the 3-year study period, 72 infantdeaths occurred in a sleeping context. Of these, 33 (45.8 %) occurred in the context of bed-sharing: n = 7 in 2008; n = 11 in 2009; and n = 15 in 2010. Further analysis of the 33 deaths occurring in the context of bed-sharing showed that in this group, bed-sharing was largely intentional, habitual and most often involved the mother as one of the parties. CONCLUSIONS: Given the case series nature of the study design, a causal relationship between bed-sharing and infantdeath could not be inferred. However the fact that nearly half of all sleep-related deaths occurred in the context of bed-sharing, provides strong support for the need to undertake definitive analytic studies in Australia so that evidence-based advice can be provided to families regarding the safety of bed-sharing practices.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bed-sharing; Fatal sleep accidents; Infant; Sudden infant death syndrome; Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy
Authors: Peter S Blair; Peter Sidebotham; Carol Evason-Coombe; Margaret Edmonds; Ellen M A Heckstall-Smith; Peter Fleming Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-10-13