Diurnal temperature range as a novel risk factor for sudden infant death

Biomed Environ Sci. 2011 Oct;24(5):518-22. doi: 10.3967/0895-3988.2011.05.010.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and sudden infant death (SID) between 2001 and 2004 in Shanghai, China.

Methods: We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover analysis to estimate the percent increase of SID associated with changes in DTR after adjustment for daily weather conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and outdoor air pollution.

Results: DTR was significantly associated with daily SID. An increase of 1 °C in the current-day (L0) and in the 2-day moving average (L01) DTR corresponds to a 1.56% (95% CI: 0.97%, 2.15%) and a 1.89% (95% CI: 1.17%, 2.60%) increase in SID, respectively.

Conclusion: An increased DTR was associated with an increased risk of SID in Shanghai. More studies are needed to understand the effect of DTR on infant deaths.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • China / epidemiology
  • Death Certificates
  • Humans
  • Humidity
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
  • Ozone / analysis
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Sudden Infant Death / epidemiology
  • Sudden Infant Death / etiology*
  • Sulfur Dioxide / analysis
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Ozone
  • Nitrogen Dioxide