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Periodicities in respiration and heart rate in newborns
Insights
Periodic breathing in infants is an exaggeration of normal breathing patterns. This study found underlying slow variations in regular breathing and heart rate patterns, suggesting peripheral cardiovascular control.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Respiratory control
- Cardiovascular regulation
Background:
- Periodic breathing is common in infants but its mechanisms and relation to normal breathing are unclear.
- Prolonged apnea associated with periodic breathing can lead to sudden infant death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of periodic breathing in healthy newborn infants.
- To analyze the relationship between periodic breathing and normal breathing patterns.
- To examine heart rate (HR) patterns during periodic and normal breathing.
Main Methods:
- Recorded respiratory and heart rate (HR) patterns in 11 healthy newborn infants during quiet sleep.
- Utilized spectral analysis to examine respiratory and HR patterns.
- Compared patterns during normal and periodic breathing.
Main Results:
- A low-frequency (LF) periodicity was identified in normal breathing, similar to periodic breathing frequencies.
- Periodic breathing appears to be an exaggeration of underlying slow amplitude variations in regular breathing.
- LF periodicity was observed in HR patterns during both normal and periodic breathing, indicating cardiovascular control modulation.
Conclusions:
- Periodic breathing in infants may represent an exaggeration of inherent respiratory patterns.
- Heart rate modulation at LF frequencies suggests peripheral interactions with respiration.
- Further research is needed to clarify central vs. peripheral control mechanisms in infant cardiorespiratory regulation.
Abstract:
Periodic breathing is common in normal infants, but may be associated with prolonged apnea leading to crib death. The mechanisms of periodic breathing and its relation to normal breathing patterns are unclear. We recorded respiratory and heart rate (HR) patterns of 11 healthy newborn infants during quiet sleep, in both normal and periodic breathing. Spectral analysis of the respiratory pattern revealed a low-frequency (LF) periodicity in normal breathing approximately equal to the frequency of periodic breathing when this occurs. Periodic breathing thus appears to be an exaggeration of an underlying slow amplitude variation which is present in regular breathing. LF periodicity also appeared in the HR pattern in both normal and periodic breathing, suggesting an LF modulation of cardiovascular control as well. The lack of a definite phase relation between HR and ventilation at LF may indicate dominant peripheral, rather than central, interactions between HR and respiration at these frequencies.