We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Mortality due to sudden infant death syndrome in Northern Italy, 1990–2000: a baseline for the assessment of prevention campaigns.
- Authors
Montomoli, Cristina; Monti, Maria C.; Stramba-Badiale, Marco; Marinoni, Alessandra; Foglieni, Nives; Carreri, Vittorio; Amigoni, Maurizio; Schwartz, Peter J.
- Abstract
The aim of this paper is to estimate the infant mortality rate and the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Lombardy, Northern Italy, in the period 1990- 2000 and to provide basic information for a subsequent comparison of the SIDS incidence before and after the risk-intervention campaign. A retrospective epidemio- logical study was carried out using all deaths of resident infants occurring up to 1 year of age as recorded by the health districts mortality registries of the Lombardy region, between 1990 and 2000. The infant mortality rate was 4.1 per 1000 live births, with a significant decreasing trend. This decrease is mainly due to the fall in mortality for congenital malformations and perinatal diseases. The SIDS incidence rate was 0.13 per 1000 live births; the annual incidence of SIDS during the study period decreased significantly by 60% from 0.20 to 0.08 deaths per 1000 live births (P = 0.001). When `possible SIDS deaths', not directly labelled as SIDS, were also considered, the rate of SIDS was 0.54 per 1000 live births. The incidence of SIDS in Northern Italy appears much lower than anticipated. SIDS remains the single leading cause of death in the first year of life after the early neonatal period. The aim of this paper is to estimate the infant mortality rate and the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Lombardy, Northern Italy, in the period 1990- 2000 and to provide basic information for a subsequent comparison of the SIDS incidence before and after the risk-intervention campaign. A retrospective epidemio- logical study was carried out using all deaths of resident infants occurring up to 1 year of age as recorded by the health districts mortality registries of the Lombardy region, between 1990 and 2000. The infant mortality rate was 4.1 per 1000 live births, with a significant decreasing trend. This decrease is mainly due to the fall in mortality for congenital malformations and perinatal diseases. The SIDS incidence rate was 0.13 per 1000 live births; the annual incidence of SIDS during the study period decreased significantly by 60% from 0.20 to 0.08 deaths per 1000 live births (P = 0.001). When `possible SIDS deaths', not directly labelled as SIDS, were also considered, the rate of SIDS was 0.54 per 1000 live births. The incidence of SIDS in Northern Italy appears much lower than anticipated. SIDS remains the single leading cause of death in the first year of life after the early neonatal period. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a permanent birth defect syndrome caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. It is characterised by growth deficiency central nervous system damage/dysfunction, and a unique cluster of minor facial anomalies. To assess the effectiveness of fetal alcohol syndrome prevention efforts, one must be able to estimate accurately the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome over time in population-based samples. With the establishment of the Washington State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network of clinics, the development of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Facial Photographic Analysis Software, the creation of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) 4-Digit Diagnostic Code, the establishment of the Foster Care Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Screening Program, and the collection of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Management System data on maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy, the tools, methods and infrastructure for assessing the effectiveness of fetal alcohol syndrome primary prevention efforts in Washington State are in place. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine whether the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome among children in a foster care population, born between 1993 and 1998, decreased with the documented decrease in prevalence of maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy from 1993 and 1998 in Washington State. The prevalence of maternal drinking during pregnancy in Washington State declined significantly (P < 0.001) from 1993 to 1998 as did the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome among foster children born 1993-98 (P > 0.03). These observations support the likelihood that fetal alcohol syndrome prevention efforts in Washington State are working successfully.
- Subjects
LOMBARDY (Italy); NORTHERN Italy; SUDDEN infant death syndrome; INFANT mortality; INFANT death; INFANTS
- Publication
Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology, 2004, Vol 18, Issue 5, p336
- ISSN
0269-5022
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-3016.2004.00583.x