Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is “the death of an infant occurring suddenly when nothing in the known history of the infant could have predicted it”. After complete investigations including the history of the facts as well as all the complementary examinations recommended by the High Authority of Health (biology, imaging…), either a cause explaining the death is found, or no cause is highlighted, we speak then of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Despite the decrease in SUID rates observed following prevention campaigns in the early 1990s, SUID continues to be the leading cause of death among infants aged 1 month to 1 year in developed countries, particularly in France.
Currently, France remains one of the countries with a high rate of SUID in Europe with 250 to 350 infant deaths per year. A 2009 study showed that 50 to 70% of SUID remain unexplained deaths; since then, no further data have been published.
Faced with this observation, the Nantes University Hospital in collaboration with the National Association of Referral Centers for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (ANCReMIN) set up in May 2015, a French National SUID registry.
This brings together all french referral centers taking care of children who died of unexpected infant death in France. This registry covers the entire French territory, including the overseas territories.
In July 2020, a biocollection called “BioMIN” was associated with the data collection. This biocollection collects human biological samples (blood, stool, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and hair) from children who have died of SUID and for whom the parents have signed a consent form. Samples are centralized once a year at the biological resource center of the Nantes University Hospital.
Since January 2021, SUID registry has obtained a good evaluation (A for each criteria) by the Registry Evaluation Committee composed of INCA, Inserm and Santé Publique France. This recent evaluation will allow the development of national and international collaborations with research teams to advance knowledge in the field of SUID.
Creation of French Referral Centers for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (CRMIN)
Investigation
Federation of referral centers

Setting up of the French National SUID registry
