Sudden unexpected infant death in Auckland: a retrospective case review

Aim: To review autopsy reports of all SUDI deaths in the Auckland region, New Zealand, from October 2000 to December 2009. Methods: Information on all SUDI cases from 2000 to 2009 was extracted from autopsy and police reports from the National Forensic Pathology Service at Auckland Hospital. Results: Of the 332 post-mortems in this period, 221 were classified as SUDI. Of these, 83% were M (a) over bar aori or Pacific infants. The median age at death was 11 weeks and 11% occurred in 7-to 28-day-olds. At the time of death, 64% overall were bedsharing; this was more common in 7-28 day olds (92%). Bedsharing infants were significantly younger at death than non-bedsharing infants (p = 0.008). Where sleep position was known, 57% were placed in non-supine at the last sleep. There was no evidence of diagnostic shift and the prevalence of bedsharing did not change over the decade. Conclusions: Bedsharing was associated with a high proportion of SUDI cases, especially in the youngest infants, and non-supine sleep positions were common. There is a need to enhance SUDI prevention messages and consider innovative ways of promoting safe sleeping environment and supine sleep position in M (a) over bar aori and Pacific communities.