Epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome in American Indians.

A 7-year retrospective study of sudden infant death syndrome in Oklahoma Indians failed to support previous observations of a markedly elevated rate among the American Indians compared with the white population. The rate of sudden infant death syndrome in Oklahoma Indians was 2.32/1,000 live births. The rates of sudden infant death syndrome among white infants (1.8/1,000) and black infants (3.11/1,000) were similar to those reported in previous studies. Males had consistently higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome regardless of race.