Key result
Prone sleeping in preterm infants linked to higher heart rate and lower variability versus supine.
Why the study?
Does sleeping in the prone position alter heart rate and respiratory rate variability in prematurely-born infants compared to the supine position?
Observational (n=20)
Does sleeping in the prone position alter heart rate and respiratory rate variability in prematurely-born infants compared to the supine position?
In preterm infants, prone sleeping increases heart rate and decreases heart period variability, with these autonomic responses being modulated by the time after feeding.
May indicate autonomic vulnerability in prone preterm infants; hypothesis-generating and should not yet alter positioning practices.
Infants sleeping in the prone position are at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sleep position-dependent changes in cardiorespiratory activity may contribute to this increased risk. Cardiorespiratory activity is also affected by feeding. Twenty prematurely-born infants were studied at 31-36 weeks postconceptional age while sleeping in the prone and supine positions. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and patterns of variability were recorded during interfeed intervals, and effects of position and time after feeding were analyzed by repeated measures analyses of variance. There were significant effects of both sleeping position and time after feeding. Heart rate is higher and heart period variability is lower in the prone position, and the effects of sleeping position on cardiac functioning are more pronounced during the middle of the intrafeed interval. In preterm infants, autonomic responses to nutrient processing modulate the cardiorespiratory effects of sleeping position. Prone sleeping risk may vary with time after feeding.
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Fifer et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Prematurely-born infants (n=20). Prone sleeping position vs. Supine sleeping position was evaluated on Heart rate, respiratory rate, and patterns of variability. Prone sleeping position was associated with higher heart rate and lower heart period variability compared to supine sleeping in preterm infants, with effects modulated by time after feeding.
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