Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28759406›Full record

ArticlePediatrics2017

Variations in Cause-of-Death Determination for Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths.

Carrie K Shapiro-Mendoza, Sharyn E Parks, Jennifer Brustrom, Tom Andrew, Lena Camperlengo, John Fudenberg, Betsy Payn, Dale Rhoda

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatrics, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 45 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Sudden unexpected deaths in children: distinct entities.European journal of pediatrics · 2026
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  6. Understanding three approaches to reporting sudden unexpected infant death in the USA.Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Carrie K Shapiro-MendozaDivision of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; ayn9@cdc.gov.
Sharyn E ParksDivision of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Jennifer BrustromBattelle, Seattle, Washington.
Tom AndrewOffice of the Chief Medical Examiner, Concord, New Hampshire.
Lena CamperlengoDivision of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
John FudenbergClark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Betsy PaynBattelle, Seattle, Washington.
Dale RhodaBattelle, Seattle, Washington.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · USBattelle · USOffice of Chief Medical Examiner · USUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

Intramural CDC HHS CC999999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo quantify and describe variation in cause-of-death certification of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) among US medical examiners and coroners.

methodsFrom 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.

resultsOf 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.

conclusionsUS 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.

Indexed as

Cause of DeathAdultAgedCoroners and Medical ExaminersCross-Sectional StudiesDeath CertificatesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleMiddle AgedSudden Infant DeathUnited StatesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID28759406
PMCPMC5599098
OpenAlexW2624158616

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.