Jean Richards1,2,3, John R. Alexander1,2,3, E A Shinebourne1,2,3, Michael de Swiet1,2,3, Adrian Wilson1,2,3, D P Southall1,2,3
1Department of Medical Physics, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, England
2From the Department of Paediatrics, Cardiothoracic Institute, Brompton Hospital, London
3From the Department of Paediatrics, Cardiothoracic Institute, Brompton Hospital, London; Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computing, Thames Polytechnic, Woolwich, London; and Department of Medical Physics, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, England
Tóm tắt
Sequential recordings (total number 365, mean duration 22 hours) of ECG and abdominal wall movement were obtained from 110 full-term infants up to 6 months of age. The longest pause in breathing movement per recording (maximum 21.6 seconds) decreased in duration over the first 2 weeks of life (P < .005). Pauses >18.0 seconds were not detected after seven days. The spread of values for pauses ≥3.6 seconds duration was widest during the first 2 weeks, and their number decreased with age (P < .001). Periodic breathing, detected in 69% to 80% of infants in all age groups, showed decreasing trends with age in total duration and maximum length of episode (P < .005 for both). The spread of values was widest during the first 2 weeks (range for total duration 0 to 4.7 hours) and decreased with age. The mean respiratory rate during regular breathing decreased after 4 weeks (P < .001). The spread of values was widest during the first 2 weeks and decreased with age. Birth weight was positively correlated with mean respiratory rate during the first three days of life (r = +.64, P < .001). The mean heart rate during regular breathing increased during the first 15 days (P < .001) and then decreased after 4 weeks (P < .001). Higher mean heart rates were found in male infants (P < .01).
