Polygraphic recordings of respiration in neonates: a pointer to SIDS?

Polygraphic respiratory recordings of 60 neonates were obtained from the infants in paediatric intensive care unit of a large public hospital. Thirty infants were pre-term and thirty infants were in the term (control) group. The recordings were analysed for periodic breathing and apnoeic episodes. Results were also determined for apnoeic density in pre-term and term Infants. Apnoeic episodes were found to be statistically significant in the pre-term infants over term Infants.