Home Apnea Monitoring in ‘Near-Miss’ Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and in Siblings of SIDS Victims

Abstract

Electronic monitors were used at home to detect apnea in 134 [human] infants considered to be at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Seventy-two infants had idiopathic apnea at a mean age of 2.2 .+-. 1.4 (.+-. 1 SD) mo. Of these, 31 subsequently had prolonged apnea (> 20 s) with the last spell occurring at 6.2 .+-. 3.2 mo. of age. Fourteen infants required vigorous stimulation on at least 1 occasion and 14 had > 10 separate episodes. Eighteen infants with awake apnea had a significantly smaller chance of subsequent spells (P < 0.05). Ten additional term infants had apnea during the 1st wk of life, but none had subsequent episodes. Of 52 siblings of SIDS victims, only 7 had had apnea before monitoring started. Sixteen had prolonged apnea while on a monitor; 7 required vigorous stimulation on at least occasion; and 1 infant died despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The first documented spell in these 16 infants was at 2.6 .+-. 2.1 mo. and the last at 7.2 .+-. 2.7 mo. of age. Ten infants had > 10 subsequent spells. A tendency to clustering of spells was noted. Preceding events, especially a mild upper respiratory tract infection, were noted in 36 of the 47 infants who had apnea on the home monitor.