SLEEP POSITION AND SIDS IN IRISH INFANTS

A retrospective case-controlled study has compared the frequency of di fferent sleeping and a group of 98 control infants. The results show a clear excess of SIDS death (lying on abdomen) position with the risk of a SIDS increased 2.3 fold comparing prone to side and 10.5 fold com paring prone to back positions. Among the SIDS group 79% of infants we re lying prone when found dead compared to 25% of the control group (c hi square = 64.3, p< 0.001) with only 7% and 9% sleeping on their side s and backs respectively (control group 48% and 27% respectively). Iri sh parents should be advised to avoid placing infants in the prone pos ition (on abdomen) to sleep as this position is associated with a sign ificantly increased risk of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.