§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies have died in each of the last five years through cot death syndrome; and whether the totals reveal any statistically significant features relating to regions, proximity to strong electro-magnetic fields or any other specifically identifiable feature common to such tragedies.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 20 February 1989]: The following figures for the years 1983–87 (the latest available) show for each regional health authority and for Wales the number of deaths and the death rate for (a) deaths where sudden infant death or a similar term was given as the underlying cause; (b) deaths where sudden infant death or a similar term was mentioned on the death certificate although not as the underlying cause; and (c) for comparison, all infant deaths.
The figures illustrate what has long been known—that regional variations exist. We are aware of no statistically significant evidence that links deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or accounts for its geographical variations, with any specific factor. A 1988 report on infant mortality in England prepared for the chief medical officer—a copy of which was placed in the Library—noted that there has been a shift in diagnostic classification towards certifying as SIDS deaths which would previously have been assigned to diseases of the respiratory system. The recent Social Services Select Committee report on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality recommends further research into the causes of infant deaths, particularly those attributed to SIDS. The Government will be responding shortly.
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Deaths registered in England and Wales where Sudden Infant Death is given as the underlying cause Numbers Rates per 1,000 live births 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 England and Wales 1,099 1,080 1,165 1,292 1,337 1.75 1.70 1.77 1.95 1.96 Northern 56 60 51 69 84 1.43 1.53 1.25 1.71 2.08 Yorkshire 105 111 102 113 101 2.26 2.38 2.12 2.34 2.05 Trent 67 63 81 80 85 1.17 1.09 1.38 1.35 1.39 East Anglia 53 42 53 47 56 2.30 1.77 2.16 1.91 2.17 North West Thames 81 64 86 68 76 1.78 1.39 1.81 1.41 1.53 North East Thames 74 85 70 94 121 1.48 1.66 1.35 1.77 2.19 South East. Thames 77 81 101 102 92 1.75 1.81 2.15 2.14 1.84 South West Thames 56 55 67 95 81 1.61 1.58 1.84 2.59 2.12 Wessex 75 72 74 91 99 2.27 2.13 2.12 2.54 2.66 Oxford 65 52 52 44 52 2.10 1.63 1.57 1.33 1.50 South Western 93 81 77 104 105 2.62 2.24 2.05 2.73 2.64 West Midlands 89 110 110 127 115 1.30 1.60 1.56 1.80 1.59 Mersey 55 49 58 75 60 1.73 1.55 1.76 2.29 1.83 North Western 101 109 116 115 118 1.88 2.01 2.09 2.07 2.08 Wales 49 42 64 66 88 1.38 1.17 1.74 1.78 2.33
Deaths registered in England and Wales with a mention of Sudden Infant Death Numbers Rates per 1,000 live births 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 England and Wales 1,315 1,242 1,301 1,504 1,528 2.09 1.95 1.98 2.28 2.24 Northern 65 65 57 78 95 1.66 1.66 1.39 1.94 2.35 Yorkshire 114 118 115 125 117 2.45 2.53 2.39 2.59 2.37 Trent 128 118 118 131 128 2.24 2.05 2.01 2.21 2.10 East Anglia 52 46 55 48 57 2.25 1.94 2.25 1.95 2.21 North West Thames 92 70 87 92 82 2.02 1.51 1.83 1.91 1.65 North East Thames 83 95 84 97 135 1.66 1.85 1.62 1.83 2.44 South East Thames 93 92 105 115 105 2.11 2.06 2.24 2.42 2.10 South West Thames 69 70 71 92 93 1.99 2.01 1.95 2.50 2.43 Wessex 92 79 79 102 107 2.78 2.34 2.26 2.85 2.88 Oxford 75 62 64 55 66 2.42 1.95 1.94 1.66 1.90 South Western 100 85 82 122 111 2.82 2.35 2.18 3.20 2.79 West Midlands 110 123 127 145 131 1.61 1.79 1.81 2.06 1.81 Mersey 66 57 62 91 73 2.07 1.80 1.89 2.78 2.23 North Western 110 111 120 137 126 2.05 2.05 2.16 2.47 2.22 Wales 63 47 72 72 96 1.77 1.31 1.96 1.94 2.54
All deaths of infants aged under one year registered in England and Wales Numbers Rates per 1,000 live births 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 England and Wales 6,381 6,037 6,141 6,313 6,272 10.1 9.5 9.4 9.6 9.2 Northern 398 370 343 394 353 10.2 9.4 8.4 9.8 8.7 Yorkshire 524 499 513 513 498 11.3 10.7 10.7 10.6 10.1 Trent 591 524 505 585 553 10.3 9.1 8.6 9.9 9.1 East Anglia 208 195 231 198 201 9.0 8.2 9.4 8.1 7.8 North West Thames 400 397 429 412 411 8.8 8.6 9.0 8.6 8.3 North East Thames 481 474 441 491 549 9.6 9.3 8.5 9.3 9.9 South East Thames 413 442 445 408 463 9.4 9.9 9.5 8.6 9.3 South West Thames 301 298 332 323 323 8.7 8.5 9.1 8.8 8.4 Wessex 335 329 316 326 352 10.1 9.7 9.0 9.1 9.5 Oxford 288 270 271 299 299 9.3 8.5 8.2 9.0 8.6 South Western 349 309 320 361 342 9.8 8.5 8.5 9.5 8.6 West Midlands 740 771 741 706 687 10.8 11.2 10.5 10.0 9.5 Mersey 296 252 293 307 279 9.3 8.0 8.9 9.4 8.5 North Western 607 542 536 594 535 11.3 10.0 9.6 10.7 9.4 Wales 379 314 362 352 359 10.7 8.8 9.8 9.5 9.5