Home Apnea Monitoring in ‘Near-Miss’ Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and in Siblings of SIDS Victims

Electronic monitors were used at home to detect apnea in 134 infants who were considered to be at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Seventy-two infants had idiopathic apnea at a mean age of 2.2 ± 1.4 (± 1 SD) months. Of these, 31 subsequently had prolonged apnea (> 20 seconds) with the last spell occurring at 6.2 ± 3.2 months of age. Fourteen infants required vigorous stimulation on at least one occasion and 14 had more than ten separate episodes. Eighteen infants with awake apnea had a significantly smaller chance of subsequent spells (P < .05). Ten additional term infants had apnea during the first week of life but none had subsequent episodes. Of 52 siblings of SIDS victims, only seven had had apnea before monitoring started. Sixteen had prolonged apnea while on a monitor; seven required vigorous stimulation on at least one occasion and one infant died despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The first documented spell in these 16 infants was at 2.6 ± 2.1 months and the last at 7.2 ± 2.7 months of age. Ten infants had more than ten subsequent spells. A tendency to clustering of spells was noted. Preceding events, especially a mild upper respiratory tract infection, were noted in 36 of the 47 infants who had apnea on the home monitor.