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Episodes of bradycardia during early infancy in the term-born and preterm infant

J E Hodgman1, T Hoppenbrouwers, L A Cabal

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medical Center 90033.

American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|September 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Transient episodes of bradycardia are common in infants up to six months old and are normal reflex responses. These findings suggest that bradycardia episodes are not linked to sudden infant death syndrome risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Sleep medicine

Background:

  • Transient bradycardia episodes are common in infants.
  • Understanding these events is crucial for differentiating normal physiology from pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the incidence of transient bradycardia in healthy term and preterm infants.
  • To explore the relationship between bradycardia, apnea, oxygen levels, and sleep state.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal polysomnographic study in a sleep laboratory.
  • Included 14 term infants and 19 preterm infants (9 with apnea, 10 without).
  • Analyzed 2-4 hour polysomnographic tracings for bradycardia episodes (< or = 100 bpm).

Main Results:

  • Transient bradycardia (60-70 bpm) was common, with no drops below 50 bpm.
  • Incidence of bradycardia was inversely related to heart rate.
  • Apneic and nonapneic preterm infants showed similar results.

Conclusions:

  • Transient bradycardia episodes are normal reflex responses in infants.
  • These episodes are not associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • Findings have implications for setting infant monitor alarms.
Abstract

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