Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundSudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality globally. Although the global burden has generally declined over recent decades, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced these trends. This study investigates whether the global SIDS burden has changed, parti...

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Main Authors: Yuhan Sun, Haoran Peng, Qiao Chen, Lijie Qin, Ying Ren, Yanwei Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1606910/full
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author Yuhan Sun
Haoran Peng
Qiao Chen
Lijie Qin
Ying Ren
Ying Ren
Yanwei Cheng
author_facet Yuhan Sun
Haoran Peng
Qiao Chen
Lijie Qin
Ying Ren
Ying Ren
Yanwei Cheng
author_sort Yuhan Sun
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality globally. Although the global burden has generally declined over recent decades, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced these trends. This study investigates whether the global SIDS burden has changed, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study were analyzed to estimate SIDS mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, regionally, and nationally. Rates were stratified by sex, age group, socio-demographic index (SDI), and health system level. Projections were made using the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model and the the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.ResultsIn 2021, global SIDS deaths totaled 30,608, with a mortality rate of 24.16 per 100,000 infants (95% UI, 14.06–32.44). Global DALYs were 2,746,174, at a rate of 2,167.56 per 100,000 infants (95% UI, 1,261.44–2,909.59). Mortality and DALYs rates decreased by 59% from 1990 to 2021, with marked regional differences. Regions with Low SDI and Minimal health systems, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, had the highest burden, while higher SDI and advanced health system regions reported significant declines. Male infants aged 1–5 months showed higher rates than females. Despite a global decline during the pandemic, temporary increases occurred in countries including China, the Russian Federation, and Monaco. Projections suggest continued declines, predicting a mortality rate of 16.86 per 100,000 infants and DALYs rate of 1,400.41 per 100,000 infants by 2035.ConclusionsThe global SIDS burden has consistently declined since 1990, including during COVID-19, yet significant regional disparities remain. Enhanced healthcare interventions and targeted public health initiatives are crucial, particularly in regions with Low SDI and Minimal health system resources.
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spelling doaj-art-29c7e531d224425fbaeaf8b59d89f48d2025-08-20T02:21:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-06-011310.3389/fped.2025.16069101606910Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemicYuhan Sun0Haoran Peng1Qiao Chen2Lijie Qin3Ying Ren4Ying Ren5Yanwei Cheng6Henan Key Laboratory for Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Critical Care Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, ChinaNursing Department, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, ChinaHenan Provincial Key Medicine Laboratory of Nursing, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Emergency, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, ChinaBackgroundSudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality globally. Although the global burden has generally declined over recent decades, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced these trends. This study investigates whether the global SIDS burden has changed, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study were analyzed to estimate SIDS mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, regionally, and nationally. Rates were stratified by sex, age group, socio-demographic index (SDI), and health system level. Projections were made using the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model and the the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.ResultsIn 2021, global SIDS deaths totaled 30,608, with a mortality rate of 24.16 per 100,000 infants (95% UI, 14.06–32.44). Global DALYs were 2,746,174, at a rate of 2,167.56 per 100,000 infants (95% UI, 1,261.44–2,909.59). Mortality and DALYs rates decreased by 59% from 1990 to 2021, with marked regional differences. Regions with Low SDI and Minimal health systems, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, had the highest burden, while higher SDI and advanced health system regions reported significant declines. Male infants aged 1–5 months showed higher rates than females. Despite a global decline during the pandemic, temporary increases occurred in countries including China, the Russian Federation, and Monaco. Projections suggest continued declines, predicting a mortality rate of 16.86 per 100,000 infants and DALYs rate of 1,400.41 per 100,000 infants by 2035.ConclusionsThe global SIDS burden has consistently declined since 1990, including during COVID-19, yet significant regional disparities remain. Enhanced healthcare interventions and targeted public health initiatives are crucial, particularly in regions with Low SDI and Minimal health system resources.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1606910/fullsudden infant death syndromeglobal burden of diseasedisability-adjusted life yearsmortalityCOVID-19socio-demographic index
spellingShingle Yuhan Sun
Haoran Peng
Qiao Chen
Lijie Qin
Ying Ren
Ying Ren
Yanwei Cheng
Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
Frontiers in Pediatrics
sudden infant death syndrome
global burden of disease
disability-adjusted life years
mortality
COVID-19
socio-demographic index
title Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Global, regional, and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome, 1990–2021: a comprehensive analysis of GBD 2021 data with insights into the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort global regional and national burden of sudden infant death syndrome 1990 2021 a comprehensive analysis of gbd 2021 data with insights into the impact during the covid 19 pandemic
topic sudden infant death syndrome
global burden of disease
disability-adjusted life years
mortality
COVID-19
socio-demographic index
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1606910/full
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