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Comparing Full and Pre-Term Neonates' Heart Rate Variability in Rest Condition and during Spontaneous Interactions
Theano Kokkinaki1, Maria Markodimitraki2, Giorgos Giannakakis3
1Child Development and Education Unit, Laboratory of Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Crete, 74150 Rethymnon, Greece.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 11, 2023
Summary
Preterm neonates exhibit lower heart rate variability (HRV) than full-term infants, indicating reduced parasympathetic activity. Parent interaction may enhance autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation in both preterm and full-term neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Autonomic nervous system development
- Heart rate variability analysis
Background:
- Preterm neonates demonstrate diminished heart rate variability (HRV) compared to full-term infants.
- HRV metrics reflect autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and maturation.
- Understanding ANS differences is crucial for preterm infant care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare HRV metrics between preterm and full-term neonates during transitions between rest and parent interaction.
- To investigate the impact of parent-neonate interaction on ANS activity in both groups.
- To assess potential differences in ANS maturation between preterm and full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Short-term HRV recordings (time-domain, frequency-domain, non-linear) were analyzed.
- 28 healthy preterm and 18 full-term neonates were studied at term-equivalent age.
- HRV was compared during transitions: rest to parent interaction (TI1-TI2), interaction to rest (TI2-TI3), and rest to second parent interaction (TI3-TI4).
Main Results:
- Preterm neonates showed significantly lower PNN50, NN50, and HF (%) compared to full-term neonates.
- These findings suggest reduced parasympathetic activity in preterm infants.
- Both groups exhibited coactivation of sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) systems during interaction periods.
Conclusions:
- Parent-neonate interaction may promote autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation in both preterm and full-term infants.
- Spontaneous interaction appears to be a key factor in enhancing ANS development.
- Further research can explore specific interaction strategies to optimize ANS maturation.
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