[Apnea characteristics of children who later died: comparison of sudden infant death with other causes of death].

Apnea characteristics of infants, who were destined to die, were compared with control infants, matched for gestational age, sex, birth weight and age at sleep study. From 1989 to 1994 polygraphic recordings were performed in 4268 infants. In this population 7 cases of sudden infant death (SID) and 13 deaths from other causes (non-SID) occurred. Concerning all forms of apneas a higher frequency and maximal duration was found in the SID group. The number of infants with obstructive apneas and the number of obstructive apneas per infant were higher in future SID victims, as was the frequency, mean and maximal duration of central apneas of 3 to 10 s. The recordings of non-SID-infants were not different from their controls. As a group, future SID victims showed apnea characteristics different from control infants. Together with epidemiologic risk factors these polygraphic factors contribute to an identification of infants at risk for SID.