National and State Trends in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: 1990–2015

In a new report in Pediatrics, CDC scientists examined national and state trends in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) from 1990 through 2015. This study reports on the US rates of SUID overall and by subtype (including sudden infant death syndrome, unknown cause, and accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed).

Main findings:

Declines in US SUID rates have slowed since 1999. SUID rates only decreased 7% from 1999 through 2015, as compared to 45% from 1990 through 1998.

In recent years, SUID are being classified less often as sudden infant death syndrome and more often as accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed.

Although some states have experienced notable declines, wide variations in SUID rates by state still exist.

These findings provide an opportunity for states to re-evaluate their safe sleep promotion and other SUID reduction programs. States with declining SUID rates may have implemented successful programs that can be adapted in states with higher or increasing SUID rates.

Read the article.

Learn more about SUID from CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health.