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[Infant mortality and sudden crib death in Lombardy]
Maria Cristina Monti1, Cristina Montomoli, Alessandra Marinoni
1Dipartimento di scienze sanitarie applicate e psicocomportamentali, Cattedra di cardiologia Università di Pavia, Dipartimento di cardiologia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia. crimonti@unipv.it
Insights
Infant mortality in Northern Italy is low, with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) being the leading cause of death after the early neonatal period. This study provides crucial data on infant mortality and SIDS incidence in the region.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Infant mortality and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) rates were previously unknown in Italy.
- This study focuses on Lombardy, Northern Italy, a region with distinct demographic and health characteristics.
- Data from 1994-1996 were analyzed to provide a comprehensive overview of infant mortality trends.
Purpose:
- To estimate the infant mortality rate in Northern Italy.
- To determine the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the region.
- To identify the leading causes of infant death, particularly post-neonatal mortality.
Summary:
- The infant mortality rate was found to be 4.76 per 1,000 live births, lower than national averages.
- The incidence of SIDS was 0.14 per 1,000 live births, rising to 0.39 per 1,000 when unlabelled deaths were included.
- SIDS emerged as the primary cause of death in infants after the early neonatal period.
Impact:
- The findings indicate a decrease in infant mortality attributed to reduced congenital malformations and perinatal diseases.
- The study highlights the significant role of SIDS as a leading cause of post-neonatal infant mortality in Northern Italy.
- This research provides essential epidemiological data for public health initiatives aimed at reducing infant mortality and SIDS.
Objective:
To estimate the infant mortality rate and the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which is not known in Italy.
Design:
Retrospective mortality study using all deaths of resident infants occurring up to one year of age as recorded by the Italian Institute of Statistics, between 1994 and 1996.
Setting:
Lombardy, Northern Italy.
Main Outcome Measures:
Infant mortality rate (deaths occurring in the 1st year of life), early neonatal mortality rate (1st-7th days of life), late neonatal mortality rate (8th day of life-1st month of life), post-neonatal rate (1st month-one year of life), and incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Results:
The infant mortality rate was 4.76 per 1,000 live births, with no significant differences among the three years and lower than the Italian rates. The SIDS incidence rate was 0.14 per 1,000 live births, and 0.39 per 1,000 live births when deaths not directly labelled as SIDS were considered. SIDS was the single leading cause of death in the first year of life after the early-neonatal period.
Conclusions:
The decrease of the infant mortality rate is due to the drop in mortality for congenital malformations and perinatal diseases. The incidence of SIDS in Northern Italy turns out to be low, while SIDS remains the single leading cause of death in the first year of life after the early neonatal period.
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