0
December 1991, Vol 145, No. 12 >
Article | December 1991

Breathing Patterns and Heart Rates at Ages 6 Weeks and 2 Years FREE

Christian F. Poets, MD; Valerie A. Stebbens; John R. Alexander, MSc, FSS MIS; David P. Southall, MD, FRCP
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication June 10, 1991.

Reprint requests to the Department of Pediatrics, National Heart & Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6HP, England (Dr Southall).


Am J Dis Child. 1991;145(12):1393-1396. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1991.02160120061020.
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References
Comments

• Forty-two randomly selected, full-term, healthy infants underwent 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings and breathing movements at about ages 6 weeks (median age, 43 days; range, 34 to 61 days) and 2 years (median age, 26 months; range, 21 to 35 months). The number and duration of apneic pauses of 3.6 seconds or longer were analyzed. Periodic apnea was defined as a sequence of three or more apneic pauses, each separated by fewer than 20 breaths. All other apneic pauses were defined as isolated. Median heart rates and respiratory rates, which were measured during regular breathing, decreased from 137/min and 35/min to 98/min and 21/min, respectively. The total duration of periodic apnea remained unchanged (median, 0.06 min/h vs 0.05 min/h). Although the median frequency of all isolated apneic pauses decreased from 3.6/h to 2.5/h, the number of those that were longer than 6 seconds increased from 0.37/h to 0.80/h, leading to an increase in the proportion of these pauses, among all isolated apneic pauses, from 10% at age 6 weeks to 32% at age 2 years. Only one apneic pause in one infant at age 6 weeks, but eight pauses in six children at age 2 years, were longer than 15 seconds. A knowledge of such normal variability in the duration of apneic pauses in older infants and young children is essential for the interpretation of pneumograms and alarms while monitoring breathing movements.

(AJDC. 1991;145:1393-1396)

REFERENCES

1 +
Carse EA, Wilkinson AR, Whyte PL, Henderson-Smart DJ, Johnson P.  Oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, breathing and heart rate in normal infants during the first six months of life . J Dev Physiol . 1981;;3:85-100.
2 +
Flores-Guevara R, Sternberg B, Guidasci S, Durupt N, Monod N.  Respiratory pauses and periodic breathing assessed by cardiopneumography in normal infants and in SIDS-siblings . Neuropediatrics . 1986;;17:59-62.
3 +
Hoppenbrouwers T, Hodgman JE, Harper RM, Hofmann E, Sterman MB, McGinty DJ.  Polygraphic studies of normal infants during the first six months of life, III: incidence of apnea and periodic breathing . Pediatrics . 1977;;60:418-425.
4 +
Hunt CE, Brouillette RT, Hanson D, David RJ, Stein IM, Weissbluth M.  Home pneumograms in normal infants . J Pediatr . 1985;;106:551-555.
5 +
Richards JM, Alexander JR, Shinebourne EA, de Swiet M, Wilson AJ, Southall DP.  Sequential 22-hour profiles of breathing patterns and heart rate in 110 full-term infants during their first 6 months of life . Pediatrics . 1984;;74:763-777.
6 +
Steinschneider A.  Prolonged apnea and the sudden infant death syndrome: clinical and laboratory observations . Pediatrics . 1972;;50:646-654.
7 +
Rigatto H.  Apnea . Pediatr Clin North Am . 1982;;29:1105-1116.
8 +
Little GA, Ariagno RB, Beckwith B, et al.  Task Force on Prolonged Infantile Apnea; prolonged infantile apnea: 1985 . Pediatrics . 1985;;76:129-131.
9 +
Muttitt SC, Finer NN, Tierney AJ, Rossmann J.  Neonatal apnea: diagnosis by nurse versus computer . Pediatrics . 1988;; 82:713-720.
10 +
Oren J, Kelly D, Shannon DC.  Identification of a high-risk group for sudden infant death syndrome among infants who were resuscitated for sleep apnea . Pediatrics . 1986;;77:495-499.
11 +
Rahilly PM, Symonds PF.  Simplified pneumographic monitoring of infants at risk from sudden infant death syndrome . Arch Dis Child . 1984;;59:351-355.
12 +
Benetele KHP, Albani M, Schulte FJ.  ApnoeHeimüberwachung von Kindern mit erhöhtem Risiko für den plötzlichen Kindstod (SIDS) . Monatsschr Kinderheilkd . 1986;; 134:5-9.
13 +
Foundation of the Study of Infant Death and the British Paediatric Respiratory Group.  Apnoea monitors and sudden infant death . Arch Dis Child . 1985;;60:76-80.
14 +
Southall DP, Richards JM, de Swiet M, et al.  Identification of infants destined to die unexpectedly during infancy: evaluation of predictive importance of prolonged apnoea and disorders of cardiac rhythm or conduction . BMJ . 1983;;286:1092-1096.
15 +
Richards JM. A comparison of recordings obtained using the pressure capsule transducer with those obtained using jacket plethysmography, ribcage and abdominal inductance plethysmography and transthoracic impedance pneumography. In: Long-term Recordings of Heart Rates and Breathing Patterns of Full-Term Infants During Their First Six Months of Life: Their Possible Relevance to the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. London, England: University of London; 1987. Thesis.
16 +
Rabette PS, Stocks J, Costeloe K.  Persistence of the Hering-Breuer reflex beyond the neonatal period . Eur Respir J . 1990;;3:309. Abstract.
17 +
Weese-Mayer DE, Morrow AS, Conway LP, Brouillette RT, Silvestri JM.  Assessing clinical significance of apnea exceeding fifteen seconds with event recording . J Pediatr . 1990;; 117:568-574.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Carse EA, Wilkinson AR, Whyte PL, Henderson-Smart DJ, Johnson P.  Oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, breathing and heart rate in normal infants during the first six months of life . J Dev Physiol . 1981;;3:85-100.
2 +
Flores-Guevara R, Sternberg B, Guidasci S, Durupt N, Monod N.  Respiratory pauses and periodic breathing assessed by cardiopneumography in normal infants and in SIDS-siblings . Neuropediatrics . 1986;;17:59-62.
3 +
Hoppenbrouwers T, Hodgman JE, Harper RM, Hofmann E, Sterman MB, McGinty DJ.  Polygraphic studies of normal infants during the first six months of life, III: incidence of apnea and periodic breathing . Pediatrics . 1977;;60:418-425.
4 +
Hunt CE, Brouillette RT, Hanson D, David RJ, Stein IM, Weissbluth M.  Home pneumograms in normal infants . J Pediatr . 1985;;106:551-555.
5 +
Richards JM, Alexander JR, Shinebourne EA, de Swiet M, Wilson AJ, Southall DP.  Sequential 22-hour profiles of breathing patterns and heart rate in 110 full-term infants during their first 6 months of life . Pediatrics . 1984;;74:763-777.
6 +
Steinschneider A.  Prolonged apnea and the sudden infant death syndrome: clinical and laboratory observations . Pediatrics . 1972;;50:646-654.
7 +
Rigatto H.  Apnea . Pediatr Clin North Am . 1982;;29:1105-1116.
8 +
Little GA, Ariagno RB, Beckwith B, et al.  Task Force on Prolonged Infantile Apnea; prolonged infantile apnea: 1985 . Pediatrics . 1985;;76:129-131.
9 +
Muttitt SC, Finer NN, Tierney AJ, Rossmann J.  Neonatal apnea: diagnosis by nurse versus computer . Pediatrics . 1988;; 82:713-720.
10 +
Oren J, Kelly D, Shannon DC.  Identification of a high-risk group for sudden infant death syndrome among infants who were resuscitated for sleep apnea . Pediatrics . 1986;;77:495-499.
11 +
Rahilly PM, Symonds PF.  Simplified pneumographic monitoring of infants at risk from sudden infant death syndrome . Arch Dis Child . 1984;;59:351-355.
12 +
Benetele KHP, Albani M, Schulte FJ.  ApnoeHeimüberwachung von Kindern mit erhöhtem Risiko für den plötzlichen Kindstod (SIDS) . Monatsschr Kinderheilkd . 1986;; 134:5-9.
13 +
Foundation of the Study of Infant Death and the British Paediatric Respiratory Group.  Apnoea monitors and sudden infant death . Arch Dis Child . 1985;;60:76-80.
14 +
Southall DP, Richards JM, de Swiet M, et al.  Identification of infants destined to die unexpectedly during infancy: evaluation of predictive importance of prolonged apnoea and disorders of cardiac rhythm or conduction . BMJ . 1983;;286:1092-1096.
15 +
Richards JM. A comparison of recordings obtained using the pressure capsule transducer with those obtained using jacket plethysmography, ribcage and abdominal inductance plethysmography and transthoracic impedance pneumography. In: Long-term Recordings of Heart Rates and Breathing Patterns of Full-Term Infants During Their First Six Months of Life: Their Possible Relevance to the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. London, England: University of London; 1987. Thesis.
16 +
Rabette PS, Stocks J, Costeloe K.  Persistence of the Hering-Breuer reflex beyond the neonatal period . Eur Respir J . 1990;;3:309. Abstract.
17 +
Weese-Mayer DE, Morrow AS, Conway LP, Brouillette RT, Silvestri JM.  Assessing clinical significance of apnea exceeding fifteen seconds with event recording . J Pediatr . 1990;; 117:568-574.

Correspondence

Submit a Letter
CME
Accreditation Information
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Clear Answers | Save For Later
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
Commitment to Change (optional):
Indicate what change(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
Your quiz results:
The filled radio buttons indicate your responses. The preferred responses are highlighted
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2013 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems