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Normal ranges for the variability in heart rate in young infants while sleeping

M M Massin1, N Withofs, K Maeyns

  • 1Division of Paediatric Cardiology, CHR Citadelle, University of Liège, Belgium. martial.massin@chrcitadelle.be

Cardiology in the Young
|January 30, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Heart rate variability in infants shows significant development during sleep, reflecting autonomic nervous system maturation. These findings are crucial for understanding infant autonomic control.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Autonomic nervous system function
  • Infant sleep studies

Background:

  • Heart rate variability (HRV) measurements are vital for assessing cardiac autonomic activity.
  • Understanding HRV development in infants is crucial for monitoring autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental trajectory of HRV in healthy young infants during sleep.
  • To establish normative data for HRV parameters in infants.

Main Methods:

  • Polygraphic recordings and electrocardiography were performed on 587 healthy infants (5-26 weeks old).
  • Multiple time-domain and frequency-domain HRV indices were calculated during 400 minutes of sleep.
  • Analysis included separate assessments for quiet sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep periods.

Main Results:

  • Significant correlations were found between HRV indices, mean RR interval, breathing rate, and infant corrected age.
  • Infant sleep patterns and their maturation significantly influenced HRV parameters.
  • A progressive increase in HRV indices was observed with increasing age.

Conclusions:

  • Confirms progressive maturation of the autonomic nervous system in healthy infants during sleep.
  • Provides a basis for using HRV to study physiological and pathophysiological influences on autonomic control in infants.
  • Highlights the importance of sleep state in modulating autonomic function during development.
Abstract

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