Neonatal intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with later systemic hypertension

Approximately 5% of very premature infants delivered at less than 30 weeks' gestation have systemic hypertension. In adult human and animal models, intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with systemic hypertension. In neonates, intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with adverse outcomes, but it is unknown if they are a risk factor for hypertension. We hypothesize that early intermittent hypoxemia events in very preterm neonates are associated with systemic hypertension at 34-36 weeks' postmenstrual age.

Secondary analysis of a single-center cohort study of 164 infants, <31 weeks' gestational age. Intermittent hypoxemia events were continuously recorded during the first 21 days of age.

There was a significant association between the number of intermittent hypoxemia events (per 100) and systemic hypertension (OR (95% CI) = 1.08 (1.01-1.15)), and both the number of intermittent hypoxemia events (per 100 β (95% CI) = 0.22 (0.10-0.34)) and percent of time with hypoxemia (β (95% CI) = 0.10 (0.01-0.19)) and systolic blood pressure at 34-36 weeks' postmenstrual age.

This study demonstrated a higher incidence of early intermittent hypoxemia events in preterm infants with hypertension. Decreasing intermittent hypoxemia during this critical period may reduce incidence of later vascular stress in this population.

Intermittent hypoxemia events are very common in premature infants and increased frequency of intermittent hypoxemia events is associated with morbidity. Intermittent hypoxemia events in adult human as well as adult and neonatal animal models are associated with systemic hypertension. This study demonstrated an association between early intermittent hypoxemia events and systemic hypertension in very preterm neonates, adding to the body of literature of possible morbidities caused by intermittent hypoxemia events. This study addresses the common, though under-recognized, issue of neonatal hypertension, and suggests increased intermittent hypoxemia events may be contributory.