Increase Seen in Infant Mortality From Sudden Unexpected Infant Death

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Infant mortality rates decreased from 1999 to 2022, but infant mortality from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) increased significantly, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Elizabeth R. Wolf, M.D., M.P.H., from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, and colleagues examined the top 13 causes of infant death from Jan. 1, 2018, to Dec. 31, 2022, substituting sudden infant death syndrome with the more inclusive SUID.

The researchers found that infant mortality rates decreased by 24.2 percent from 736.0 to 558.0 per 100,000 from 1999 to 2022, with the steepest decline from 2007 to 2011 (annual percent change, –3.6). For many causes of death, recent decreases in mortality were seen. A notable exception was seen for SUID, which increased from 89.9 to 100.5 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2022. For all causes of death except congenital malformations and hemorrhage, mortality rates were two to four times higher among Black than White infants. For Black versus Asian infants, the rate ratios were 10.7 for SUID, 4.6 for unintentional injuries, and 4.2 for hypoxia and birth asphyxia. For American Indian and Alaska Native infants, mortality rates were significantly higher for SUID, unintentional injuries, and necrotizing enterocolitis compared with Asian infants (rate ratios, 9.6, 5.5, and 2.8, respectively).

“This study found that infant mortality from SUID has increased significantly,” the authors write. “Possible explanations include COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, maternal opioid use, and social media”s influence on infant sleeping practices.”

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