Abstract
An epidemiological study of discharges from the Univ. of Washington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 1977 and 1981 was conducted to ascertain whether certain clinical conditions and/or demographic factors were associated with an increased risk of SIDS. SIDS infants (n=27) were identified from autopsy results and/or coroners' reports to the SIDS Coordinating Center, Seattle, WA and were compared on 10 selected clinical and 7 demographic factors (DF) to all NICU graduates who did not die from SIDS (n= 2251 controls). The prevalence of SIDS in NICU graduates was 11.8/1000 discharges compared to 2.6/1000 births in King County, WA. SIDS was significantly increased compared to NICU controls in infants born to single or black mothers and in infants who developed apnea of prematurity (A) in the NICU (p <.05 by Chi Square). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of selected factors are shown below:
NICU discharges generally had a sixfold increased risk of SIDS and infants with apnea plus 3 or more of the selected demographic factors had a twentyfold increased risk compared to all live born infants.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guthrie, R., Darrow, V., Davis, N. et al. RISK FACTORS FOR SIDS IN NICU GRADUATES. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 324 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01388
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01388