The leading causes of infant death in the United States have been relatively stable in recent years.
Some defects, such ascleft palate, can be easily fixed with surgery.
Others, such asDown syndrome,spina bifida, or congenital heart defects, may require lifelong care.
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Some congenital defects are so severe that achild is unable to survive.
In 2022, 4,000 infants died of a congenital defect.
The rate was 109.1 per 100,000 live births, with very little change from the previous year.
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Premature babies often have trouble fighting infection because their immune systems arent yet fully formed.
In 2022, 2,876 infants died as a result of preterm birth or low birth weight.
The rate was 78.4 per 100,000 live births, a slight drop from the previous year.
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In 2022, 1,458 infants died as a result of SIDS.
The rate of 39.8 per 100,000 live births was unchanged from the previous year.
This was a 4% change over 2021.
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Pregnancy Complications
Maternal pregnancy complications can affect the babys health with varying degrees of severity.
These may include:
In 2022, 1,209 infants died as a direct result of maternal complications.
The rate of 33 per 100,000 live births reflected a 9% spike from the previous year.
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Sometimes, complications affecting the placenta or umbilical cord can cause infant death.
Congenital defects remain the No.
1 reason, but maternal health complications saw rising numbers.
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Vital Statistics Rapid Release; no 33.
National Center for Health Statistics.
- doi:10.15620/cdc:133699
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infant mortality.
Gordon SM, O’Connell AE.Inborn errors of immunity in the premature infant: challenges in recognition and diagnosis.Front Immunol.
2021;12:758373. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.758373
March of Dimes.Low birthweight.
2018;172(12):e183317.
