Cause of Death and Our National Statistics

When any of the following are written on a death certificate, the death is coded as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in our national statistics. This occurs regardless of whether it was a natural or undetermined manner of death.

• Cot Death
• Crib Death
• Sudden Death in Infancy or SDII
• Sudden Infant Death or SID
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS
• Sudden Unexplained Death or SUD
• Sudden Unexplained (Unexpected) Death in Infancy or SUDI
• Sudden Unexplained Infant Death or SUID
• Sudden + (unexpected) or (unattended) or (unexplained)
• Death + (cause unknown) or (in infancy) or (syndrome)
• Infant death + (syndrome)
• Presumed SIDS
• Probable SIDS
• Consistent with SIDS

These terms are determined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) and the World Health Organization* (WHO). To avoid having a death coded as SIDS in our national statistics, the death must be diagnosed as unknown cause of death.

Writing cause of death statements

National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)* Tutorial, Randy Hanzlick, MD

Other tutorials and references, National Center for Health Statistics

SIDS Global Strategy Task Force SIDS Autopsy Protocol, please see Krous HF, Byard RW. International Standardized Autopsy protocol for sudden unexpected infant death. Appendix I. In: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Problems, Progress and Possibilities. Byard RW, Krous HF, Eds. London, Arnold. 2001;319–333.

SUIDI Reporting Form: A Guide for Investigators

National Resources for Medical Examiners, Coroners, and Death Scene Investigators

Death Investigator: A Guide for the Scene Investigator Medical and Coroner Information Sharing Program

Medical and Coroner Information Sharing Program

SIDS Support and Bereavement*

 

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Page last reviewed: 6/21/07
Page last modified: 6/21/07
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion