Risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Romanian population

D. Liaropoulos, V. Belis, S. Hostiuc

Abstract: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome represents one of the most frequent causes of death in children of one year or less. We analyzed SIDS cases from Bucharest and surrounding areas on a ten year period (1999-2008), totaling a number of 298 cases, in order to determine the most important risk factors and possible interventional strategies. Our study revealed five major risk factors for SIDS on which we can intervene: bedding, supine sleeping position, maternal smoking, prematurity, and low birth weight. Awareness increasing campaigns, similar to “Back to sleep”, associated with a better legal framework for child supportan decrease the total number of SIDS cases.
Keywords: SIDS, sleeping position, maternal smoking, prematurity, low birth weight