Incidence

SIDS is officially defined as the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history (Willinger et al, 1991).

The incidence of cases classified as SIDS by the National Center for Health Statistics has fallen since 1980. From 1980 to 2019 the rate fell by 78%. Most of this decrease occurred during the last decade of the previous century, the decade following the US Back to Sleep campaign, with a decrease of over 50% (see Figure 1). However, recent data indicates an increase in SIDS rates following COVID-19 pandemic. Trends in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) by cause (SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, unknown) are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. SIDS Deaths per 100,000 Live Births, United States, 1980-2022

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Figure 2. Trends in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death by Cause, United States, 1990-2022

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)