Fetal heart rate patterns and sudden infant death syndrome

To determine differences in electronic fetal monitoring patterns between infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome and controls.

Case-control study (N = 127).

A tertiary-level women's hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

Infants born between 1990 and 1998 who subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome and controls. Demographic and clinical data included medical maternal charts and fetal monitoring records.

Compared with controls (n = 98), the mothers whose infants subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome (n = 29) had lower birthweight babies (sudden infant death syndrome 2,840 vs. controls 3,385 g; p < .01), were younger (22 vs. 28 years; p < .01), were more likely to receive Medicaid health insurance (odds ratio 4.6; confidence interval 1.9-11.2), were more likely to be unmarried (odds ratio 5.2; confidence interval 2.1-12.8), had less intention to breastfeed (26% vs. 57%), and were more likely to smoke (odds ratio 4.6; confidence interval 9-11.2).

There were no statistical differences in fetal heart rate variability or sleep/wake cycles detected between groups.

Statistical differences were found in demographic characteristics between sudden infant death syndrome mother-infant couples and their controls. However, no differences were detected in the intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring records, specifically in variability and sleep/wake cycles.