Premature infants showed significantly lower heart rate variability parameters than term infants, with the most significant differences reflecting reduced parasympathetic activity.
Observational (n=39)
How do heart rate variability parameters differ between premature and term infants as a measure of autonomic nervous system maturation?
Maturation of the autonomic nervous system in infants is accompanied by increasing heart rate variability, particularly reflecting increased parasympathetic activity, which can be measured by short-term recordings.
AIMS: Heart rate variability (HRV) reveals information on the functional state of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This study was initiated to assess the physiological- and maturational development of the ANS by comparing HRV data of healthy prematures with term infants. METHODS: Short-term recordings of HRV in 39 premature healthy infants (29-35 weeks' gestation) were performed and compared with normative data of term infants. Frequency domain HRV parameters are computed in three frequency bands. RESULTS: Gestational age of newborn infants is correlated with HRV. Prematures showed significant lower HRV parameters than term infants. The most significant differences were discerned for HRV parameters reflecting parasympathetic activity, whereas the pulse of the baro-receptor reflex was similar for prematures and term infants at 0.07 Hz (0.1 Hz adults). A respiratory peak in the HF-band according to respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), as is common in adults, was not detected for prematures as it is not detected in term infants. CONCLUSIONS: Maturation of the ANS is accompanied by increasing HRV with a pronounced increase of parasympathetic activity. These changes are measurable by short-term recordings. The physiological pulses concerning baroreceptor reflex activity and respiratory modulation were similar in prematures and term infants.
Longin et al. (Sun,) conducted a observational in Healthy premature infants (n=39). Prematurity vs. Term infants was evaluated on Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Premature infants showed significantly lower heart rate variability parameters than term infants, with the most significant differences reflecting reduced parasympathetic activity.