Parental reported apnoea, admissions to hospital and sudden infant death syndrome

Three studies were undertaken: (i) a nation-wide case-control study for sud den infant death syndrome (SIDS), with 393 cases and 1592 controls, examine d the association between parental reported apnoea and SIDS; (ii) a case-sh ort study, with 84 cases of parental reported apnoea and 1502 controls, aim ed to identify risk factors for apnoea; and (ii) national hospital admissio n data for ALTE and national SIDS mortality data were compared for the year s 1986 to 1994. Parental reported apnoea was associated with a significant increased risk of SIDS [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.86; 95% confidence inter val (CI) 1.12, 3.09]. The population attributable risk was 8%. There was a significant increased risk for parental reported apnoea in infants who did not die after adjustment for potential confounders with maternal smokers, s hort gestation and admission to the neonatal unit. There was no association with prone sleeping position, co-sleeping and bottle feeding. The mean ann ual admission rate for ALTE was 9.4/1000 live births. This did not change s ignificantly over the study period (1986-1994). In contrast, the SIDS morta lity rate decreased from over 4/1000 to 2.1/1000. Admission rates were high er for Maori infants and boys. Conclusion: It may be concluded that the rel ationship between parental reported apnoea and SIDS is tenuous.