Objectives. Epidemiological data on pediatric sudden death (SD) are scarce and have not been described for Asians. We sought to estimate its incidence in Taiwan.
Study design. SD patients were identified from National Health Insurance databases 2000-2006.
Results. In Taiwan pediatric population (0-18 years, 5.44 million), the neonatal, infant, postneonatal infant and under-5 mortality were 3, 6, 2.81 and 8.02/1,000 live births, and the 1-18 years mortality was 33/100,000 person-years. There were 1,528 SDs (59% male). In the population 1-18 years, annual incidence of SD was 2.7 (95% CI: 2.6-2.9), ranging from 0.7 (11-12 years) to 6.1 (1-2 years)/100,000. Male predominance was noted (3.2 versus 2.2/100,000), particularly in groups aged 16, 17 and 18 years. The proportionate mortality ratio by SD ranged 1.8-12.0% (8.9± 2.2%), being lowest in group aged 11-12 years. In infants, the incidence of SD was 0.36/1,000 live births, and the proportionate mortality ratio by SD was 1.0% and 11.7% in the neonates and postneonatal infants.
Conclusions. The incidence of pediatric SD in Taiwan, an Asian country with child health care index comparable to that in the United States, was within the range from Western reports and indicated male predominance and a nadir around 11-12 years.