Despite being studied and researched for decades, about 3,400 babies die in the United States each year from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), according to the Centers for Disease Control. So, any progress is good news, and on May 6, Australian scientists published a paper noting potential advances in understanding SIDS.
Here’s what they found and what experts are saying.
What the new SIDS study found
The study, led by Dr. Carmel Harrington of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, found that some babies who die of SIDS have low levels of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in their blood. “It’s the first time we’ve ever had a potential biomarker for SIDS,” Harrington told The New York Times on Monday.
While a biomarker could be a game-changer in terms of screening and potentially preventing SIDS, there are a few things to note:
Potential drawbacks of the new SIDS study
- The study was relatively small.
- Data isn’t exhaustive enough yet to determine if a BChE screening would truly be helpful.
- The medical community is still skeptical, as further research is needed.
“There is a lot of talk around this study. The Task Force on SIDS has reviewed the study and determined that it is not worth the hype.”
— DR. JEN TRACHTENBERG, A BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRICIAN IN NEW YORK CITY
New SIDS study findings: What experts are saying
“There is a lot of talk around this study,” says Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, a board certified pediatrician in New York City. “The Task Force on SIDS has reviewed the study and determined that it is not worth the hype.”
In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Task Force on SIDS notes: “This is an extremely small study, with 67 cases and 10 controls. The authors themselves call this (in their title) a ‘potential biomarker.’ There is nothing definitive about this at all. It is definitely not confirmed that this is ‘the cause of SIDS.’ The current hype, while understandable, is not warranted.”
The Task Force on SIDS continues, “Additionally, while the differences in blood levels of this enzyme were statistically different — even if this is confirmed by larger, additional studies — there is enough overlap in the blood levels between cases and controls that it could not be used as a blood test at this point with any reasonable predictive value.”
How to reduce the risk of SIDS
Even though SIDS still remains largely a mystery, Trachtenberg notes that the following are important to reduce the risk:
- Put baby to sleep on their back.
- Use a firm mattress.
- Avoid using crib bumpers.
- Avoid putting plush toys in crib.
- Don’t use heavy or thick blankets.
- Remember the ABCs: Alone, on Back, in Crib.
Additionally, the AAP recommends the following:
- Avoiding exposure to smoke, alcohol and illicit drugs during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding.
- Routinely immunizing routinely.
- Using a pacifier.
The main takeaway on the new SIDS study
The media fanfare surrounding the recent research has been big, but it’s still a very small advance in the study of SIDS (which, again, is a good thing). Screenings are still a long way off and parents and caregivers should continue to employ the recommended risk-reducing tactics.
