{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T21:30:21Z","timestamp":1791927021429,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]},"abstract":"\n OBJECTIVES:<\/jats:title>\n To quantify and describe variation in cause-of-death certification of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) among US medical examiners and coroners.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n METHODS:<\/jats:title>\n From January to November 2014, we conducted a nationally representative survey of US medical examiners and coroners who certify infant deaths. Two-stage unequal probability sampling with replacement was used. Medical examiners and coroners were asked to classify SUIDs based on hypothetical scenarios and to describe the evidence considered and investigative procedures used for cause-of-death determination. Frequencies and weighted percentages were calculated.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n RESULTS:<\/jats:title>\n Of the 801 surveys mailed, 60% were returned, and 377 were deemed eligible and complete. Medical examiners and coroners classification of infant deaths varied by scenario. For 3 scenarios portraying potential airway obstruction and negative autopsy findings, 61% to 69% classified the death as suffocation\/asphyxia. In the last scenario, which portrayed a healthy infant in a safe sleep environment with negative autopsy findings, medical examiners and coroners classified the death as sudden infant death syndrome (38%) and SUID (30%). Reliance on investigative procedures to determine cause varied, but 94% indicated using death scene investigations, 88% full autopsy, 85% toxicology analyses, and 82% medical history review.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n CONCLUSIONS:<\/jats:title>\n US medical examiners and coroners apply variable practices to classify and investigate SUID, and thus, they certify the same deaths differently. This variability influences surveillance and research, impacts true understanding of infant mortality causes, and inhibits our ability to accurately monitor and ultimately prevent future deaths. Findings may inform future strategies for promoting standardized practices for SUID classification.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2017-0087","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,5]],"date-time":"2017-06-05T05:45:25Z","timestamp":1496641525000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":43,"title":["Variations in Cause-of-Death Determination for Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths"],"prefix":"10.1542","volume":"140","author":[{"given":"Carrie K.","family":"Shapiro-Mendoza","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sharyn E.","family":"Parks","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer","family":"Brustrom","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Battelle, Seattle, Washington;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tom","family":"Andrew","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Concord, New Hampshire;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lena","family":"Camperlengo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John","family":"Fudenberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clark County Office of the Coroner\/Medical Examiner, Las Vegas, Nevada;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Betsy","family":"Payn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Battelle, Seattle, Washington;"},{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dale","family":"Rhoda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Battelle, Seattle, Washington;"},{"name":"Biostat Global Consulting, Worthington, Ohio"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"417","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]},"reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"2021121103254882700_B1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.3109\/15513819109065465","article-title":"Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.","volume":"11","author":"Willinger","year":"1991","journal-title":"Pediatr Pathol"},{"issue":"3","key":"2021121103254882700_B2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1097\/01.paf.0000257385.25803.cf","article-title":"A functional approach to sudden unexplained infant deaths.","volume":"28","author":"Corey","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am J Forensic Med Pathol"},{"issue":"2\u20133","key":"2021121103254882700_B3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2006.05.028","article-title":"Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)\u2013standardised investigations and classification: recommendations.","volume":"165","author":"Bajanowski","year":"2007","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Int"},{"key":"2021121103254882700_B4","first-page":"1","article-title":"Guidelines for death scene investigation of sudden, unexplained infant deaths: recommendations of the interagency panel on sudden infant death syndrome.","volume":"45","author":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","year":"1996","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"key":"2021121103254882700_B5","volume-title":"Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigation Reporting Form","author":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","year":"2007"},{"issue":"3","key":"2021121103254882700_B6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1097\/PAF.0b013e3181fe33bd","article-title":"Sudden infant death syndrome: diagnostic practices and investigative policies, 2004.","volume":"33","author":"Camperlengo","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am J Forensic Med Pathol"},{"issue":"5","key":"2021121103254882700_B7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1247","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2004-2188","article-title":"Changes in the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths: United States, 1992-2001.","volume":"115","author":"Malloy","year":"2005","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"8","key":"2021121103254882700_B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"762","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwj117","article-title":"Recent national trends in sudden, unexpected infant deaths: more evidence supporting a change in classification or reporting.","volume":"163","author":"Shapiro-Mendoza","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-012-9350-1","article-title":"Changing infant death rates: diagnostic shift, success story, or both?","volume":"9","author":"Byard","year":"2013","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Med Pathol"},{"issue":"2","key":"2021121103254882700_B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1214\/ss\/1009213286","article-title":"Interval estimation for a binomial proportion.","volume":"16","author":"Brown","year":"2001","journal-title":"Stat Sci"},{"issue":"8","key":"2021121103254882700_B11","first-page":"1","article-title":"The sudden infant death syndrome.","volume":"3","author":"Beckwith","year":"1973","journal-title":"Curr Probl Pediatr"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.114.1.234","article-title":"Sudden infant death syndrome and unclassified sudden infant deaths: a definitional and diagnostic approach.","volume":"114","author":"Krous","year":"2004","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"8","key":"2021121103254882700_B13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jflm.2006.11.003","article-title":"An audit of the use of definitions of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).","volume":"14","author":"Byard","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Forensic Leg Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.23907\/2011.010","article-title":"The death of SIDS.","volume":"1","author":"Nashelsky","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acad Forensic Pathol"},{"key":"2021121103254882700_B15","volume-title":"Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States a Path Forward","author":"National Research Council (US)","year":"2009"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2015.04.007","article-title":"Testing for infectious diseases in sudden unexpected infant death: a survey of medical examiner and coroner offices in the United States.","volume":"167","author":"Brooks","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Pediatr"},{"issue":"2","key":"2021121103254882700_B17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eplepsyres.2005.10.004","article-title":"Coroner and medical examiner documentation of sudden unexplained deaths in epilepsy.","volume":"68","author":"Schraeder","year":"2006","journal-title":"Epilepsy Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"2021121103254882700_B18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-014-9650-8","article-title":"Assigning cause for sudden unexpected infant death.","volume":"11","author":"Hunt","year":"2015","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Med Pathol"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2014-0602","article-title":"Need for a working classification system for sudden and unexpected infant deaths.","volume":"134","author":"Moon","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-011-9291-0","article-title":"Application of a classification system focusing on potential asphyxia for cases of sudden unexpected infant death.","volume":"8","author":"Randall","year":"2012","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Med Pathol"},{"issue":"1","key":"2021121103254882700_B21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2014-0180","article-title":"Classification system for the sudden unexpected infant death case registry and its application.","volume":"134","author":"Shapiro-Mendoza","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pediatrics"}],"container-title":["Pediatrics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2017-0087\/910742\/peds_20170087.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2017-0087\/910742\/peds_20170087.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,11]],"date-time":"2021-12-11T03:44:26Z","timestamp":1639194266000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/140\/1\/e20170087\/37952\/Variations-in-Cause-of-Death-Determination-for"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1542\/peds.2017-0087","relation":{},"ISSN":["0031-4005","1098-4275"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0031-4005","type":"print"},{"value":"1098-4275","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,1]]},"article-number":"e20170087"}}