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The influence of fetal and postnatal growth on heart rate variability in young infants
M M Massin1, N Withofs, K Maeyns
1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Liège at CHR Citadelle, CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium. martial.massin@chrcitadelle.be
Insights
Early infant growth impacts autonomic nervous system development, affecting future cardiovascular health. This study links birth weight and weight gain to heart rate variability (HRV) in infants, suggesting a mechanism for later disease programming.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Pediatric cardiology
- Autonomic neuroscience
Background:
- Early undernutrition is hypothesized to cause autonomic dysfunction, potentially programming future cardiovascular disease.
- The Barker hypothesis links impaired fetal and infant growth to later hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects cardiac autonomic control and can indicate autonomic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fetal and postnatal growth indices and HRV in infants.
- To determine if early growth influences autonomic nervous system development beyond the neonatal period.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking early growth impairment to later cardiovascular disease risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) data collected during overnight sessions in 546 healthy infants (5-12 weeks adjusted age).
- Statistical assessment of correlations between HRV indices and various growth parameters (birth weight, neonatal weight-to-head circumference ratio, postnatal weight gain).
- Comparison of associations in younger (5-10 weeks) versus older (11-12 weeks) infants.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between birth weight, weight-to-head circumference ratio, postnatal weight gain, and HRV indices (particularly those influenced by sympathetic activity) in 11- and 12-week-old infants.
- Slight correlations were observed in younger infants, suggesting a developmental trajectory.
- These findings indicate that fetal and postnatal growth influence autonomic nervous system programming beyond the immediate neonatal period.
Conclusions:
- Fetal and postnatal growth significantly influence the programming of the infant autonomic nervous system.
- This growth-related autonomic programming may represent a key mechanism underlying the Barker hypothesis, connecting early growth impairment to later cardiovascular disease.
- HRV assessment in infancy provides insights into autonomic nervous system development and potential long-term health risks.
Abstract:
Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic control, was analyzed in infants to assess the hypothesis that early undernutrition may induce autonomic dysfunction that could play a role in the programming of later cardiovascular disease. HRV data were collected during a night session in 546 healthy infants at 5-12 weeks of adjusted age, and statistical associations with fetal and postnatal growth indices were established. A significant positive correlation between birth weight, the ratio of neonatal weight to head circumference and postnatal weight gain, and HRV indices mostly influenced by sympathetic activity was demonstrated in 11- and 12-week-old infants. A slight correlation (p > 0.05) was also found in younger infants. These data suggest the influence of fetal and postnatal growth on the programming of the autonomic nervous system beyond the neonatal period. This influence may be one of the important mechanisms that link impaired growth in fetal and infant life to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease during childhood and adulthood (the Barker hypothesis).