Sudden Infant Death in Copenhagen 1956–1971

Abstract

131 cases of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the municipality of Copenhagen 1956--71 (incidence 0.92 SIDS cases per 1 000 live births) were investigated on the basis of police reports and infant health visitor's records. Fewer SIDS cases were breast-fed than controls from the second week of life to four months of age. No significant differences were found with respect to the concentrations of fresh cow's milk dilutions, age at introduction of solid food, or number of meals per day. From 1956 to 1971 breast-feeding was declining and solids introduced earlier, while the incidence of SIDS remained constant. The lifespan for SIDS cases who had never been breast-fed was equal to that of cases who had. There is no evidence that SIDS victims had their first solid food during the last days of life. The results are discussed in the light of the hypersensitivity, immuno-incompetence, and high solute feeding hypotheses. It is concluded that feeding does not seem to be responsible for the occurrence of SIDS. The lower frequency of breast-feeding among SIDS cases is ascribed to various factors known to be associated with SIDS.

Breast feeding and the sudden infant death syndrome in Scandinavia, 1992-95

“…This is consistent with the findings of Biering-Sørensen and colleagues, who found no rise in the incidence of SIDS accompanying an increase in artificial feeding in Copenhagen between 1956 and 1971. 4 The fall in SIDS incidence after 1991 was caused by abandonment of prone as the preferred sleeping position, in turn promoted by the risk reducing campaigns. 8 18 We have estimated the duration of breast feeding, exclusive and non-exclusive, in weeks and used these as measures of breast feeding.…”

“…There is still controversy as to whether bottle feeding is an independent risk factor or not. In Copenhagen, Biering-Sørensen and colleagues 4 described an increase in artificial feeding through the years 1956-71 but no accompanying rise in the incidence of SIDS, as would be expected from a causal association. The New Zealand study 8 9 showed an independent effect of breast feeding, with an odds ratio of 2.9 (95% CI: 1.8 to 4.7), but in England 10 11 and Scotland 12 this was not found.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] However, Siwe in Sweden 5 and others 6 7 did not find any difference. There is still controversy as to whether bottle feeding is an independent risk factor or not.…”

The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment, and New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk

“…16,18,31,49,[89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98] Although some studies show a protective effect of breastfeeding on SIDS, 18,98,99 others do not. 31,49,91,96,97,100,101 In addition, a recent article has demonstrated that although breastfeeding is associated with decreased postneonatal deaths overall, it is not associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. 102 Many of the case-control studies demonstrate a protective effect of breastfeeding against SIDS in univariate analysis but not when confounding factors are taken into account.…”

Breastfeeding and Reduced Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Meta-analysis

“…However, epidemiologic studies have been inconsistent in showing a protective effect of breastfeeding on the risk of SIDS; some study results have supported a protective effect, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and others have not. 2,5,8,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The authors of a meta-analysis and qualitative literature review published in 2000 concluded that there was a statistically significant increase in SIDS risk for bottle-fed infants. 20 These authors, however, defined SIDS loosely (as any sudden and unexplained death in an infant or young child) and included studies in which the definitions of breastfeeding exposure differed, and there were other methodologic flaws.…”