Characteristics of included studies
| First author, country | Centre, dates of episodes | No. | Definition of target population Exclusions | Inv. proto. | Participants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED, emergency department. | ||||||
| Prospective, prospective identification of patients. | ||||||
| Retrospective, retrospective case note review. | ||||||
| Inv. proto., investigation protocol. | ||||||
| A | Davies (2002), England5 | ED, children’s hospital, 1996–97 (prospective) | 65 | 1986 consensus definition Exclusions: infants >6 mth with febrile convulsion. | Yes | age 0–12 mth, median 7 weeks, 15% SIDS in relative, 15% <34 weeks preterm |
| B | Gray (1999), England6 | ED, children’s hospital, 1993 (retrospective) | 130 | Episode with one or more of the following: apnoea, colour change, choking, abnormal limb movements, causing observer to seek medical help. 130 infants had 163 ALTE episodes requiring admission. Exclusions: infants >6 mth with febrile convulsion. | No | age 0–12 mth, median 8 weeks, 3.1% SIDS in close family |
| C | Kurz (1997), Austria2 | Paediatric dept, university hospital (prospective) | 60 | Episode of sudden, unexpected pallor or cyanosis with lifelessness, experienced by parents as mortal threat. No exclusions. | Yes | age 1–45 weeks, median 16 weeks, 22% preterm |
| D | Laisne (1989), France7 | Paediatric dept, general hospital, 1985–87 (retrospective) | 100 | Episode of sudden, unexplained apnoea with cyanosis and/or pallor and hypotonia leading to loss of consciousness and often prompting carers to stimulate the infant. No exclusions. | Yes | mean 13 weeks, 90% <6 mth |
| E | Sheikh (2000), USA10 | ED, children’s hospital, 1993–97 (retrospective) | 74 | Episode of prolonged apnoea, hypotonia and pallor or cyanosis in first year of life. No exclusions. | No | age 0–12 mth, mean 7 weeks, 0% preterm |
| F | Tal (1999), Israel8 | Paediatric ward, general hospital, 1993–95 (retrospective) | 65 | 1986 consensus definition. No exclusions. | Yes | age 1–6 mth |
| G | Tsukada (1993), Japan11 | Paediatric ward, general hospital, 1986–91 (retrospective) | 19 | 1986 consensus definition. No exclusions. | Yes | age 23 days–13 mth, mean 19 weeks |
| H | V-Wauters (1991), Belgium9 | ED, children’s hospital, 1984–86 (retrospective) | 130 | Episode of prolonged apnoea, hypotonia, and cyanosis or pallor. No exclusions. | Yes | age 2–36 weeks |