title: The Longitudinal Effects of Persistent Apnea on Cerebral Oxygenation in Infants Born Preterm.
abstract: To assess the incidence and impact of persistent apnea on heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and brain tissue oxygenation index (TOI) over the first 6 months after term equivalent age in ex-preterm infants.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four preterm infants born between 27 and 36 weeks of gestational age were studied with daytime polysomnography at 2-4 weeks, 2-3 months, and 5-6 months post-term corrected age. Apneas lasting ≥3 seconds were included and maximal percentage changes (nadir) in HR, SpO2,and tissue oxygenation index (TOI, NIRO-200 Hamamatsu) from baseline were analyzed.
  
  
  
  A total of 253 apneas were recorded at 2-4 weeks, 203 at 2-3 months, and 148 at 5-6 months. There was no effect of gestational age at birth, sleep state, or sleep position on apnea duration, nadir HR, SpO2, or TOI. At 2-4 weeks, the nadirs in HR (-11.1 ± 1.2 bpm) and TOI (-4.4 ± 1.0%) were significantly less than at 2-3 months (HR: -13.5 ± 1.2 bpm, P < .05; TOI: -7.5 ± 1.1 %, P < .05) and at 5-6 months (HR: -13.2 ± 1.3 bpm, P < .01; TOI: -9.3 ± 1.2%, P < .01).
  
  
  
  In ex-preterm infants, apneas were frequent and associated with decreases in heart rate and cerebral oxygenation, which were more marked at 2-3 months and 5-6 months than at 2-4 weeks. Although events were short, they may contribute to the adverse neurocognitive outcomes that are common in ex-preterm children.
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Center, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: rosemary.horne@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Rosemary S C
authors.initials: RSC
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Annie C H
authors.initials: ACH
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Center, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: NcNeil
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Center, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Karinna L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Fyfe
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Center, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexsandria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odoi
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Center, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Newborn, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Flora Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000150:complications*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: apnea; preterm; sleep; sleeping position