Wednesday 29 September 2010

SIDS: placenta abnormality research study

To determine whether placental abnormality (placental abruption or placental previa) during pregnancy
predisposes an infant to a high risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the authors conducted a
population-based case-control study using 1989-1991 California linked birth and death certificate data. They
identified 2,107 SIDS cases, 96% of whom were diagnosed through autopsy. Ten controls were randomly
selected for each case from the same linked birth-death certificate data, matched to the case on year of birth.
About 1.4% of mothers of cases and 0.7% of mothers of controls had either placental abruption or placenta
previa during the index pregnancy. After adjustment for potential confounders, placental abnormality during
pregnancy was associated with a twofold increase in the risk of SIDS in offspring (odds ratio = 2.1, 95%
confidence interval 1.3-3.1). The individual effects of placental abruption and placenta previa on the risk of SIDS
did not differ significantly. An impaired fetal development due to placental abnormality may predispose an infant
to a high risk of SIDS.
<http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/149/7/608.full.pdf>
Am J Epidemiol 1999; 149:608-11.

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