Idiopathic apparent life-threatening event in Northern Israel.

OBJECTIVE

To note whether the incidence of idiopathic apparent life-threatening event (IALTE) has decreased since 1993 in parallel to the decline in the incidence of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) 2. To compare their epidemiological profile to infants with acute unrelated illness.

METHODS

The discharge diagnoses of each infant investigated for apparent life-threatening event or apnea in the five major hospitals in Northern Israel were reviewed over the period 1991-2000. Infants with identified aetiology or apnea only were excluded. Each infant was matched with two other infants admitted for an acute respiratory illness unrelated to apnea. IALTE rates were compared to the national rates of SUDI.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty-three infants were diagnosed with IALTE. No evidence for a decline in incidence was noted over the period of the study, while a consistent decline in the incidence of SUDI was observed. Only few differences in the epidemiological profile were noted between the study and the comparison group, that is, increased rate of prematurity and first-born infants.

CONCLUSIONS

(i) The two conditions probably do not share a common aetiology in the majority of cases; and (ii) the epidemiological profile of IALTE is predominantly similar to that of infants hospitalized for respiratory illness.