Analyzing the Predictors of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)        

Analyzing the Predictors of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is when a presumably healthy infant under the age of one year passes away unexpectedly due to an unexplained cause. SIDS is determined to be the cause of death once no other explanation is found after an investigation or autopsy. Since the start of the Safe to Sleep (formerly known as Back to Sleep) campaign in 1994, rates of SIDS have decreased dramatically but since then the rates of SIDS have plateaued. As of 2017, SIDS is the fourth leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. In 2017, there were 3,600 infant deaths due to SIDS. To determine the predictors of SIDS, data from CDC Wonder was analyzed. It was found that male infants have a significantly higher rate of SIDS. Infants of Native American or Alaskan Indian and Black or African American descent had the highest risk of SIDS. Asians had the lowest SIDS death rate. In the United States, infants in the Southern region had the highest risk of SIDS. Birthweight and prematurity were also found to be strong predictors of SIDS. Further research needs to be conducted on the genetics behind SIDS to find the cause.