A ten-year retrospective case review of risk factors associated with sleep-related infant deaths

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to identify risk factors associated with sleep-related deaths of infants (0-24 months) in the province of Manitoba, Canada, between January 2009 and December 2018.

Methods: A systematic retrospective case review of autopsies and administrative records in Manitoba between 2009 and 2018.

Results: A total of 145 infants died in cases where unsafe sleep environments were known to have contributed to or resulted in their death and where no explained medical causes were identified. Where data complete, all infants had at least one known risk factor for sleep-related deaths, and 96% had multiple. The most common risk factors increased over time and included objects in the sleeping environment (90% of cases), not approved sleep surfaces (77%) and bedsharing (50%). Indigenous infants, infants of young mothers and infants in low-income neighbourhoods are overrepresented. Risk factors for Indigenous infants differed from cases involving non-Indigenous infants.

Conclusion: A high proportion of sleep-related infant deaths were associated with not approved sleep surfaces and bedsharing, especially for infants under one year. Families in low-income neighbourhoods, Indigenous families and families with young mothers were disproportionately affected by sleep-related infant deaths. There is a need to enhance messaging and smoking cessation messaging in Indigenous communities to prevent sleep-related deaths.

Keywords: indigenous health; risk factors; sleep-related infant death; sudden infant death syndrome; sudden unexpected infant death.