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[Correlation between respiration and heart rate in 12- to 14-year-old children during sleep and wakefulness]
A Unbehaun1, R Mrowka, V Schwarz
1Institut für Physiologie, Universitätsklinikums Charité, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Deutschland.
Insights
Cardiorespiratory coupling, the link between heart rate and breathing, strengthens during non-REM sleep in children. This improved connection enhances respiratory control over heart rate, showing stable patterns within each sleep or wake state.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Context:
- The interplay between cardiac and respiratory rhythms is influenced by brainstem activity and external factors.
- The specific impact of sleep and wakefulness on cardiorespiratory coupling requires further investigation.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing autonomic nervous system function in children.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of sleep and wakefulness on cardiorespiratory coupling in healthy children.
- To quantify changes in heart rate (HR) and respiratory rhythm during different states using spectral analysis and coherence.
- To determine differences in coupling strength and frequency characteristics between non-REM sleep and wakefulness.
Summary:
- This study analyzed 24-hour ECG and respirogram data from 42 children (12-14 years old).
- Findings indicate higher maximal power of HR and coherence during non-REM sleep compared to wakefulness.
- Results suggest enhanced respiratory influence on HR control and a stronger, state-stable linear coupling during non-REM sleep.
Impact:
- The findings reveal distinct cardiorespiratory coupling patterns during sleep and wakefulness in children.
- Increased coherence during non-REM sleep suggests improved autonomic regulation and a more robust interaction between respiratory and cardiac systems.
- These insights contribute to understanding developmental changes in cardiorespiratory control and potential implications for health.
Abstract:
The coupling of respiratory and cardiac rhythm is determined by interactions of oscillating brain stem centers and external physical and psychical influences. Not well known are effects of sleep and wakefulness which will be investigated over the day. From the ECG and respirogram of 42 healthy children (11 female, 31 male, 12 to 14 years) during 24 h the time series of instantaneous heart rate (HR) and respiratory rhythm and from this by FFT the density spectra of power, the maximal power and related frequency in the respiratory range were ascertained. Differences between nonREM sleep and wakefulness and the strength of coupling were determined by coherence analysis. In all probands the maximal power of HR and of the coherence were higher during nonREM sleep than in wakefulness. Both values were stable during each state. The maximum related frequencies of HR and respiration shifted parallel between sleep and wakefulness. The results mean augmentation in nonREM sleep following to improved transfer of respiratory activity to the control of HR. The increased coherence hints at a stronger linear coupling which is stable during each state. The changes of cardiorespiratory coupling may be effected by stronger non-linear parts in the interactions during wakefulness.