Changes in the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome in Sweden 1973-1996

From the early 1970s to the early 1990s, there was a significant rise in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Scandinavia. Following the risk reducing campaign, the incidence has fallen to about the same level as in 1973.

To identify the changes that have occurred in the epidemiology of SIDS.

We compared the Swedish part of the Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study (NESS), covering the years 1992-1995, with two earlier, descriptive studies during this period. To assess the changing effects of risk factors, we analysed data from the Medical Birth Registry of Sweden, covering the years 1973-1996.

There was a predominance of deaths during weekends in the 1970s and 1990s. The seasonal variation was most notable in the 1980s. The proportion of young mothers decreased from 14% to 5%. Cohabitation (living with the biological father) was as frequent in the 1990s as in the 1970s. The prevalence of high parity, admissions to neonatal wards, low birth weight, prematurity, and multiple pregnancies were all increased in the 1990s compared to the 1970s. No significant change in the prevalence of previous apparent life threatening events was found. Deaths occurring in cars diminished from 10% to below 2%. In the data from the Medical Birth Registry of Sweden, there were significantly increased odds ratios after the risk reducing campaign of the risk factors smoking during early pregnancy and preterm birth. We could find no increased effects of maternal age, parity, or being small for gestational age over time. The rate of deaths at weekends remained increased; the median age at death fell from 90 to 60 days. Seasonal variation was less notable in the periods of low incidence.