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Published on: July 14, 2023
Apnea in infants.
Adrian Poblano1, Aida Marquez, Guadalupe Hernandez
1Clinic of Sleep Disorders, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. drdeaf@starmedia.com
Neonatal apnea events affect nearly 25% of infants, with specific types linked to preterm birth, hyperbilirubinemia, and sepsis. Polysomnography identified many cases without prior clinical suspicion.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Apnea is a common concern in neonatal care units.
- Understanding risk factors for different apnea types is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of risk factors associated with various apnea types in newborns.
- To analyze polysomnographic (PSG) findings in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study conducted in NICU of a tertiary care institution in Mexico City.
- 223 infants were evaluated using sleep PSG recordings between August 2002 and August 2003.
- Infants presenting any apnea event during PSG were included for analysis.
Main Results:
- Approximately 25% of NICU patients experienced apnea events.
- Infants with apnea had lower birth age, weight, and cephalic perimeter but no increased neurological risk factors.
- Central apnea was linked to preterm birth (<1,500g), obstructive apnea to hyperbilirubinemia and gastro-esophageal reflux, and mixed apnea to sepsis and hyperbilirubinemia.
- PSG revealed 36% of infants with apnea lacked prior clinical suspicion.
Conclusions:
- Central apnea events are more prevalent in preterm infants.
- Obstructive apnea is associated with hyperbilirubinemia and gastro-esophageal reflux.
- Mixed apnea events frequently occur in infants with hyperbilirubinemia and sepsis.
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