Dummies and SIDS: Low response rates generate considerable uncertainty

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7534.178-b

BMJ 2006;332:178 (21 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7534.178-b

Letter

Dummies and SIDS

Low response rates generate considerable uncertainty

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Editor—Li et al found that in infants who died from suddeninfant death syndrome (SIDS) the reported use of a dummy (pacifier)in the index sleep was 4.1%, in the 50% of eligible motherswho agreed to take part.¹ The use of a dummy in the other 50%of eligible infants with SIDS is unknown. In the control infantsthe reported use of a dummy in the last sleep before interviewwas 23.6%, in the 40% of eligible mothers who agreed to takepart. The use of a dummy in the other 60% of control infantsis also unknown.

Thus, potentially the overall dummy use in all the cases wasbetween 2% and 54% and in all the controls between 9% and 69%.None of the confidence intervals reported in the paper reflectsuncertainty generated by those who declined to take part. Becauseof the low response rates, unadjusted odds . . . [Full text of this article]

Christopher J Cates, general practitioner

Manor View Practice, Bushey Health Centre, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2NN chriscates@nhs.net

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