Effect of ambient temperature on SIDS rate
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S C Anderson1, W G Murrell, C C O'Neill
1Department of Microbiology, University of Sydney, NSW.
Objective:
To examine the relationship between ambient temperature and rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Subjects And Setting:
All infants with SIDS occurring during 1980-1989 in the Sydney metropolitan area.
Results:
The SIDS rate varied more than threefold over the months of the year and peaked at the minimum daily temperature in July. The rate was negatively linearly related to both the monthly mean minimum and maximum daily temperatures. Both relationships were highly significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The significant relationship between daily temperature and SIDS rate means either that daily temperature is an excellent indicator of the cold weather conditions that have a profound effect on the rate of SIDS or that temperature itself plays a direct role in the cause of SIDS.