Original Article

Journal of Perinatology (2006) 26, 306–312. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211490; published online 30 March 2006

Fewer spontaneous arousals during prone sleep in preterm infants at 1 and 3 months corrected age

R L Ariagno1, S van Liempt2 and M Mirmiran1

  1. 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
  2. 2Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr RL Ariagno, Department of Pediatrics, Div. Neonatal Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 750 Welch Road, Suite 315, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1510, USA. E-mail: rla@stanford.edu

Received 30 August 2005; Revised 14 February 2006; Accepted 21 February 2006; Published online 30 March 2006.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

This study was performed to determine if there were fewer spontaneous arousals in prone sleep than in supine sleep.

Study design:

 

Home polysomnography/video recordings were done during daytime naps in 14 preterm infants: four at corrected age of 1 month, nine at both 1 and 3 months, and one only at 3 month. A body movement lasting 3 to 60 s during sleep was used as an indicator of spontaneous arousals.

Results:

 

Most arousals had a heart rate increase and change in respiration pattern. The mean duration of the intervals between successive arousals in active and quiet sleep was significantly longer in prone at 1 and 3 months of age. The duration of arousals was significantly shorter at 3 months corrected age compared with one month corrected age during active sleep. The duration of arousals was shorter during quiet sleep at one month compared with active sleep.

Conclusion:

 

There were fewer spontaneous arousals that is, longer interval between successive arousals in prone, which may, in part, explain the increase in risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Keywords:

sub-cortical arousal and new scoring criteria, polysomnography, prematurity, sleep position, spontaneous arousal, SIDS

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