[Crib death or cot death in the Nordic countries. A forensic pathologist's point of view]

In the 15 years between 1975 and 1989 approximately 5,000 infants succumbed to SIDS in the Nordic countries. Denmark and Norway were most seriously hit, with SIDS rates amounting to 2 and 2.5 per 1,000 live births in 1989. During the 1970's and 1980's especially Denmark and Norway experienced a significant increase in SIDS rates. In 1990 a co-operative study was initiated by Nordic Council of Ministers. Part of the study consisted of forensic pathologists examining SIDS victims. They showed that neither the increase during the 1980's nor the decrease during the 1990's was due to changes in the classification or diagnostic practise. A correlation between prone sleeping position and SIDS rates is now well recognised. However, neither an explanation for the great discrepancy in SIDS rates between the Nordic countries nor a possible explanation for the risk of prone sleeping position has been achieved.