High altitude may boost incidence of SIDS, study says

Lofty living may make babies vulnerable to sudden infant death syndrome, according to a Colorado study that found higher risks above 2,400 meters.

While the research shows that the SIDS rate in Colorado's high mountains is very low, it's still two times greater than in the Denver area and other regions where the altitude is less than 1,800 meters. The results echo earlier research done in Austria's Alps.

Mountain air has less oxygen than air at lower elevations, and conditions that reduce infants' oxygen levels have previously been linked with SIDS. But exactly how mountain air might put babies at risk is uncertain, and more study is needed to determine whether there is a solid connection, the researchers said.