Caffeine at a maintenance dose of 2.5 mg/kg increased breathing frequency (p=0.023) but did not affect heart rate variability in haemodynamically stable newborns with apnoea.
Observational (n=25)
Does caffeine affect heart rate variability in haemodynamically stable newborns hospitalized due to apnoea?
A maintenance dose of caffeine (2.5 mg/kg) does not significantly affect heart rate variability in newborns treated for apnoea, whereas HRV positively correlates with postmenstrual age reflecting autonomic nervous system maturation.
p-value: p=0.023
Neonatal apnoea can be treated with caffeine, which affects the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and might be used as a measure of ANS maturation in newborns. We aimed to establish the effect of caffeine on HRV in newborns and investigated the potential correlation between HRV and postmenstrual age (PMA). In 25 haemodynamically stable newborns hospitalized due to apnoea and treated with caffeine (2.5 mg/kg), we assessed breathing frequency, arterial oxygen saturation, body temperature, and the heart rate while they were sleeping. We assessed HRV by spectral analysis using fast Fourier transformation. The same protocol was reapplied 100 h after caffeine withdrawal to assess the control parameters. Caffeine increased breathing frequency (p = 0.023) but did not affect any other parameter assessed including HRV. We established a positive correlation between postmenstrual age and HRV during treatment with caffeine as well as after caffeine had been withdrawn (total power: p = 0.044; low-frequency band: p = 0.039). Apparently, the maintenance dose of caffeine is too low to affect the heart rate and HRV. A positive correlation between PMA and HRV might reflect maturation of the ANS, irrespective of caffeine treatment.
Lenasi et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Neonatal apnoea (n=25). Caffeine vs. Caffeine withdrawal (100 h after) was evaluated on Heart rate variability and breathing frequency (p=0.023). Caffeine at a maintenance dose of 2.5 mg/kg increased breathing frequency (p=0.023) but did not affect heart rate variability in haemodynamically stable newborns with apnoea.