Abstract
Background: Music exposition of prematures has previously been reported to reduce pain, improve vital signs and result in overall non-specific “well-being”. Valid data on endogenous stress hormone response to music, determined by salivary cortisol levels, are scarce.
Objective: The aim of this study was to test the effect of live pentatonic music on the ambient stress level of very low birthweight infants.
Methods: Stable infants (birthweight 500 - 1500 g, mean age: 22 days, n=16) were exposed to 15 minutes of live harp music on 3 consecutive days, at the same time of the day. Music was identically played on a kantele. Saliva was collected prior to music exposition and at defined time points after music. Salivary cortisol and cortisone levels were measured by liquid-chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry and salivary cortisol additionally by ELISA (n=10).
Stress levels were additionally assessed by recordings of heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Pain level was determined by Bernese-Pain-Scale-for-Neonates (BSN).
Results: Salivary cortisol decreased from baseline to 25 minutes and 4 hours after intervention on all 3 days (p < 0.05 on day 1 and 3). Apneas, the number of desaturations as well as BSN levels improved significantly on all 3 days (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that pentatonic music exposition can decrease stress hormone levels of preterm neonates in a NICU environment. These are the first data regarding the effect of music exposition on stress hormone levels in a sufficient cohort of VLBW infants supporting a positive effect of music on these infants.
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Schwilling, D., Vogeser, M., Kirchhoff, F. et al. Endogenous Stress Response on Pentatonic Music in Very Low Birthweight Infants. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 724 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.949
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.949