NATIONAL SUDDEN INFANT DEATH REGISTER

Report for the fourth year, 1st January 1995 to 31st December 1995.

5. Results - Part one.

5.1.1 The results are presented in a descriptive format. This section of the report describes the cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome that occurred in the Republic of Ireland in 1995. As a general rule, in the absence of control data national rates and percentages are quoted where possible. For some parameters, such as the place where the baby slept, no national figures are available. Furthermore, in examining some parameters, the term occurred, refers to events that took place in 1995. CSO mortality figures quoted refer to births and deaths registered in 1995, some of which took place in the previous year.

5.1.2 As CSO figures refer only to events registered in that year, it is not possible at the time of this report to determine ascertainment percentages. The number of deaths which actually occurred in each year will be published in later reports. Ascertainment of deaths due to SIDS was 100%. In total, 80% (n=26) of SIDS families participated fully in the epidemiological survey. Birth details (outlining information on the father's occupation, marital status, parity, baby's mode of delivery were available in 100% of (n=33) SIDS cases. However, specific information (e.g. type of feeding initiated at birth) was not reported for a number of these cases. Post mortem details were available for 100% (n=33) of cases.

5.2 Infant Mortality Figures

5.2.1 There were 48,530 births registered during 1995. During this period, 307 infant (aged between birth and one year) deaths were registered, 225 of which occurred at ages equal to or under 28 days. This gives an infant mortality rate of 6.3 per 1,000 live births, a neonatal mortality rate of 4.6 per 1,000 live births and a post-neonatal mortality rate of 1.7 per 1,000 live births (n=82).

5.2.2 The major categories of neonatal and post-neonatal deaths for 1995 are outlined in figures 1 & 2 (see page 9). The differences in proportions between the neonatal and post-neonatal figures is due to the large number of babies with congenital anomalies and perinatal problems who die during the first four weeks of life. Comparison of specific causes of all infant deaths for 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 grouped by ICD coding are given in Table. 1 (see main Report).

5.2.3 From 1988 to 1995, the SIDS rate per 1,000 live births in the post-neonatal period (reported by the CSO) fell by 70% (2.3 V 0.7/1,000). However, the proportion of infant deaths due to SIDS, in the post-neonatal period, is only 19% less, (56% v 37%) and hence SIDS remains a leading cause of death in infants aged four weeks to one year.

5.3 Sudden Infant Death Figures.

The National Sudden Infant Death Register was notified of 33 SIDS cases during 1995, yielding a SIDS rate of 0.7 per 1,000 live births (based on CSO registered birth figures for 1995) compared with 0.8 in 1994, 0.7 in 1993, 1.1 in 1992 and 1.6 in 1991. The total number of SIDS cases in infants under one year of age that occurred in 1995 represents 10% (n=32) of all infant deaths registered during this period. In the same period, SIDS cases that occurred in 1995 accounted for 35% (n=29) of all registered deaths in infants aged between one month and one year. While SIDS continues to be a leading cause of deaths in infants during the post-neonatal period, accounting for almost four in every ten infant deaths, the declining SIDS infant mortality rate is positively changing this pattern.

In 1992, it was observed that 10% (n=6) of SIDS cases occurred among travelling families and that, based on the latest available Census of Travelling People (1986), the SIDS rate in travelling families in 1992 was ten times the national figure. (10.8 v 1.1/1,000). In 1993, 3% (n=1) of SIDS cases occurred among travelling families and in 1994 this figure rose to 5% (n=2) yielding a SIDS rate of 3.6 per 1,000 live births, which is four and a half times the national figure (3.6 v 0.8/1,000). In 1995, 4% (n=1) of SIDS cases occurred among travelling families, yielding a SIDS rate of 1.8 per 1,000 live births which for 1995 is two and a half times the national figure (1.8 v 0.7/1,000).