Analysis of infant mortality caused by sudden infant death syndrome in the Russian Federation

Abstract

Abstract Background Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of infant death and it caused the death of 40 thousand babies around the world in 2017. In the Russian Federation, there are no large and long-term studies of the epidemiology of SIDS. Methods A descriptive study of infant mortality associated with SIDS in the regions of the Russian Federation in 2019 according to the Federal State Statistics Service. Results In 2019, SIDS caused the death of 259 children and ranked 7th in the structure of infant mortality. The infant mortality rate due to SIDS was 0.17 per 1000 live births (median for the regions of the Russian Federation - 0.13, IR 0.0 - 0.27). The infant mortality rate due to SIDS among the rural population was 0.27 per 1000 live birth in the relevant area, among the urban population - 0.14, among boys - 0.20, among girls - 0.15 per 1000 live birth of the corresponding sex. From 2008 to 2019, the indicator in the Russian Federation decreased by 56% (in 2008 - 0.39 per 1000 live birth). The highest infant mortality rate due to SIDS in 2019 was recorded in the Far Eastern Federal District (0.31 per 1000 live births), the lowest was in the Central FD (0.10). SIDS was not recorded in 28 constituent entities, in 4 of them there was not a single case for the period from 2013 to 2019. In 21 regions, the infant mortality rate was higher than 0.27 per 1000 per live birth. The relative risk of SIDS was quite variable across the regions of the Russian Federation. Conclusions The analysis revealed the scatter of the infant mortality rate due to SIDS among the regions of the Russian Federation. It is necessary to study the problem of SIDS at the state level to explain the results. Key messages The development and implementation of programs for the prevention of SIDS should be based on the study of the epidemiology of this pathology in each region separately and in the country as a whole. Significant differences in the infant mortality rate due to SIDS among the regions of Russian Federation require detailed study.