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Heart rate ranges in premature neonates using high resolution physiologic data

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 1242–1245 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

There are limited evidence-based published heart rate ranges for premature neonates. We determined heart rate ranges in premature neonates based on gestational and post-menstrual age.

Study Design

Retrospective observational study of premature neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Virginia between January 2009 and October 2015. We included gestational ages between 23 0/7 weeks and 34 6/7 weeks. We stratified data by gestational and post-menstrual age groups.

Results

Over two billion heart rate values in 1703 neonates were included in our study. We established percentile-based reference ranges based on gestational and post-menstrual age. Our results demonstrate a slight increase in the initial weeks after birth, followed by a gradual decline with age. The baseline heart rate is lower with advancing gestational age.

Conclusions

Knowing heart rate reference ranges in the premature neonatal population can be helpful in the bedside assessment of the neonate.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Karen Fairchild and Robert Sinkin for their helpful insights into the completion of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Corrie J. Alonzo, Jenna V. Zschaebitz & Michael C. Spaeder

  2. University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Vijay P. Nagraj

  3. Center for Advanced Medical Analytics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Douglas E. Lake, J. Randall Moorman & Michael C. Spaeder

Authors
  1. Corrie J. Alonzo
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  2. Vijay P. Nagraj
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  3. Jenna V. Zschaebitz
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  4. Douglas E. Lake
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  5. J. Randall Moorman
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  6. Michael C. Spaeder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Corrie J. Alonzo.

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Conflict of interest

Randall Moorman, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Medical Predictive Devices, Diagnostics, and Displays. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Alonzo, C.J., Nagraj, V.P., Zschaebitz, J.V. et al. Heart rate ranges in premature neonates using high resolution physiologic data. J Perinatol 38, 1242–1245 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0156-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0156-1

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