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. 1999 Aug;81(2):112-6.
doi: 10.1136/adc.81.2.112.

Pacifier use and sudden infant death syndrome: results from the CESDI/SUDI case control study. CESDI SUDI Research Team

P J Fleming  1 , P S Blair, K Pollard, M W Platt, C Leach, I Smith, P J Berry, J Golding
Affiliations

Pacifier use and sudden infant death syndrome: results from the CESDI/SUDI case control study. CESDI SUDI Research Team

P J Fleming et al. Arch Dis Child. 1999 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relation between pacifier use and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Design: Three year population based, case control study with parental interviews for each death and four age matched controls.

Setting: Five regions in England (population > 17 million).

Subjects: 325 infants who had died from SIDS and 1300 control infants.

Results: Significantly fewer SIDS infants (40%) than controls (51%) used a pacifier for the last/reference sleep (univariate odds ratio (OR), 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.46 to 0.83) and the difference increased when controlled for other factors (multivariate OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0. 22 to 0.77). However, the proportion of infants who had ever used a pacifier for day (66% SIDS v 66% controls) or night sleeps (61% SIDS v 61% controls) was identical. The association of a risk for SIDS infants who routinely used a pacifier but did not do so for the last sleep became non-significant when controlled for socioeconomic status (bivariate OR, 1.39 (0.93 to 2.07)).

Conclusions: Further epidemiological evidence and physiological studies are needed before pacifier use can be recommended as a measure to reduce the risk of SIDS.

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Comment in

  • Pacifier use and SIDS.
    Engelberts AC, L'Hoir MP. Engelberts AC, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2000 Mar;82(3):267. doi: 10.1136/adc.82.3.266c. Arch Dis Child. 2000. PMID: 10722413 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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