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The following is a summary of “Sleep-Related Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Among Infants Prenatally Substance Exposed,” published in the November 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Deutsch et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study comparing sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in infants whose mothers were prenatally exposed to substances vs. those whose mothers were not exposed, aiming to identify prevention opportunities.
They examined SUID and sleep-related deaths (2015 to 2020) using the SDY Registry. Analyzed sleep environment characteristics, social drivers of poor health, and family vulnerability factors using descriptive statistics and chi-square (χ2) tests (P<.05).
The results showed 2,010 infants experiencing sleep-related deaths, and 283 (14%) were prenatally exposed to substances. More than half of the deaths occurred in adult beds (52%, n = 1045) or involved surface sharing (53%, n = 1074). Supervisors of infants prenatally exposed to substances were more likely to be impaired at the time of death (34%, n = 97 vs. 16%, n = 279). Statistically significant links between prenatal substance exposure and vulnerability factors (insurance, child welfare involvement, intimate partner violence, and healthcare barriers) were found.
They concluded that in infants, sleep-related SUID prenatally revealed to substances differs from those not shown in terms of sleep environment characteristics and social vulnerability.
