Outcomes for the apparent life‐threatening event infant

AIM: To examine the outcome for apparent life‐threatening event infants and the determining factors for that outcome. METHODS: A retrospective review of 903 infants (0–12 months of age) presenting to the pediatric wards at Christchurch Hospital between 1985 and 1996 with events characterized by some combination of apnoea, change in color, and muscle tone. Events, resulting in 1088 admissions, were classified from medical record review according to the severity and underlying conditions, with risk factors and long‐term outcomes examined. RESULTS: The severity of events was reduced with implementing sudden infant death syndrome recommendations regarding the risk of prone sleeping. There were no sudden infant death syndrome deaths on home apnoea monitoring. Five apparent life‐threatening event infants, not referred for home apnoea monitoring, subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome. Two infants died and one suffered significant hypoxic insult when apnoea monitoring was interrupted under the age of 4 months. Asthma and neurodevelopmental conditions appeared to be over‐represented subsequently in the apparent life‐threatening event group. CONCLUSION: Identifying apparent life‐threatening event infants at risk of sudden infant death syndrome lacked specificity. The use of apnoea home monitoring appeared protective in this cohort, but safe sleeping practices remained central for reducing sudden infant death syndrome risk.