Abstract â–¡ 159

Objective: To examine possible risk of SIDS associated with mother's caffeine intake in pregnancy.

Design: Case-control data were assembled in Odessa region (Ukraine) over period lasting between 1995-1997. Diagnosis of SIDS was based on autopsy. Two controls per case, matched for age and date of birth were randomly selected to represent normal infants.

Subjects and Methods of Analysis: 52 cases of SIDS and 104 controls were examined in univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: One or two cups of tea or coffee per day during pregnancy appears to have reduced risk slightly, but more than 2 cups per day is associated with an 85% increase in univariate risk, but was accounted for by other factors in the multivariate model. It appears sensible to recommended that heavy caffeine consumption (i.e. more than 3 cups per day) is best avoided during pregnancy.