A RECENT study has revealed a significant increase in the rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The cross-sectional study, published using USA mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), analysed 14,308 SUID cases from 2018–2021. The objective was to compare monthly SUID and SIDS rates from March 2018–December 2019, in the pre-pandemic period, with rates from March 2020–December 2021, in the intrapandemic period.
The study found that the risk for SUID increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (IR, 1.06; 95% CI: 1.05–1.07), and the risk for SIDS was also higher during the pandemic (IR, 1.10; 95% CI: 1.08–1.12). Significantly, the team found a 9% rise in SUID and a 10% increase in SIDS risk in 2021, with the most notable spike observed between June–December 2021 (10–14% SUID increase; 3–18% SIDS increase).
The researchers suggest that this shift may be linked to altered patterns of infectious disease transmission, such as off-season resurgences in endemic infectious pathogens like respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, which were significantly disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data indicate a strong correlation between monthly SUID rate changes and RSV hospitalisations, particularly in 2021.
The findings emphasise the need for ongoing research into the role of infections in SIDS and SUID, as well as the potential influence of COVID-19-related disruptions on infant health. The researchers call for further investigations to explore the links between infection, seasonal trends, and sudden infant deaths, which could guide prevention efforts and improve outcomes for infants during periods of altered disease transmission.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Guare EG et al. Rates of sudden unexpected infant death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(9):e2435722.
