Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, including details on sids, causes, prevention, statistics.

Effects of prematurity on heart rate control: implications for sudden infant death syndrome.

Horne RS

Ritchie Centre for Baby Health Research, Monash Institute for Medical Research, Monash University, Level 5, Monash Medical Centre 246 Clayton Road Clayton, Victoria, 3168 Australia. rosemary.horne@med.monash.edu.au

In Western countries, 5-11% of all infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation, and with improvements in modern intensive care techniques the number of these preterm infants that survive continues to increase. Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developed countries, accounting for 60-80% of infant deaths in those without congenital anomalies. Furthermore, in the post-neonatal period, preterm infants are at four-times greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome. It has been suggested that this increased risk is due to immature autonomic control. This article provides an overview of studies assessing autonomic control of the cardiovascular system in preterm infants.

Published 23 May 2006 in Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther, 4(3): 335-43.
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