title: Nonlinear analysis of heart rate variability in infants with apparent life-threatening events.
abstract: Some studies have shown that neonates having experienced an Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) have an increased risk of dying of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In this study the heart rate variability in neonates has been analyzed through a study of the long range correlations and scale invariance (self-similarity) in their cardiac rhythm. The goal is to see whether it is possible to distinguish normal infants from infants with ALTEs using the previously mentioned nonlinear measures of the heart rate variability. Twelve ALTE infants are included in this study. To determine the degree to which these neonates suffer from ALTEs two examinations are performed: a polysomnography and home monitoring. Using the nonlinear measures obtained from the nonlinear analysis of the heart rate variability, the group suffering most from ALTEs can clearly be separated from the other neonates.
authors.affiliation: SISTA/COSIC Division, Dept of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemmerling
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Huffel
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naulaers
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devlieger
mesh_terms: D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*