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Penn State College of Medicine researchers highlight potential link between respiratory viruses and infant death rates
In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from Penn State College of Medicine found that the rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2021. The study suggests that this rise may be linked to the resurgence of respiratory viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which became more prevalent after pandemic mitigation measures were lifted.
SUID, an umbrella term for the unexpected death of infants under the age of one, accounted for approximately 3,700 infant deaths in the United States in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SIDS, a specific type of SUID, occurs during sleep and remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation.
The research team examined national mortality data from March 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, covering over 14,000 SUID cases. They found that in 2021, SUID rates increased by 9%, and SIDS rates by 10%, compared to pre-pandemic levels. The monthly SUID rates from June to December 2021 saw an increase of 10% to 14% compared to the pre-pandemic period, mirroring a surge in respiratory virus activity, particularly RSV.
“Despite efforts to educate parents about safe sleep environments, SUID rates remain high,” said Emma Guare, a medical student and first author of the study. “We wanted to explore whether the changes in infection rates during the pandemic were linked to this increase.”
The study noted that while RSV infections remained low in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, they surged in mid-2021, outside the virus’s typical season of October to April. This “off-season” RSV surge coincided with the rise in SUID cases, raising questions about a potential connection between respiratory viruses and the risk of sudden infant death.
“We still don’t fully understand what makes some infants more vulnerable to SUID or SIDS. It could be genetic factors, but infections like RSV may amplify those vulnerabilities,” said Dr. Erich Batra, associate professor of pediatrics and family and community medicine at Penn State. RSV, in particular, has been linked to episodes of apnea, where infants temporarily stop breathing, potentially contributing to the increased risk.
The researchers emphasized that while the pandemic brought new challenges, maintaining safe sleep practices remains critical, especially when infants are ill. “Caregivers should continue to place babies on their backs to sleep, avoid soft bedding, and refrain from bed-sharing,” Batra urged.
The study calls for further research to explore the role of infections like RSV in contributing to SUID and SIDS cases. Other authors of the study included Catharine Paules, Vernon Chinchilli, Paddy Ssentongo, and Rong Zhao, all from Penn State College of Medicine.
As researchers continue to investigate the complex causes of SUID and SIDS, the study reinforces the importance of both infection control and adherence to safe sleep guidelines to protect vulnerable infants.
