Summary
Question of the Study
The study aimed at evaluating a possible association between low birth weight (LBW) and certain behavioural features during sleep in 2-month-old infants.
Patients and Methods
Eighty-three infants (35 boys, 48 girls) who were born in St. Petersburg in 2000 to 2002 and met a conventional definition of LBW (<2500 g at birth) entered the study. Of these, 66 (30 boys, 36 girls) were born both light and preterm (gestational age ≤36 weeks), and 17 (eight boys, nine girls) were born light but at term. The control group consisted of 112 infants (51 boys, 61 girls), made up of healthy babies born at term and having appropriate birth weight, matched to case babies for gender distribution, date of birth, calendar age at time of study, and geographical distribution within a city as close as possible. The mothers were asked to fill in the questionnaire addressing major infant, maternal and demographic characteristics, as well as the infant's major clinical signs and symptoms during daytime and at night. As a part of the interview, the mothers also completed a questionnaire addressing infant's behavioural features during sleep, which was based on Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire.
Results
LBW infants presented with longer average total sleep duration (difference in the means equal to 1 h), principally due to longer night sleep. More often the parents rated LBW infants as sleeping too long and falling asleep in the transport; at bedtime, they were more often ready to fall asleep, but more frequently needed parents in the room and were put into parental bed beforehand. These associations remained significant after adjustments were made for major potential confounders. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the time the baby usually spent awake during the night, although LBW infants were more frequently brought to the parental bed, if awake. No statistically significant difference was found for any sleep characteristic between LBW infants who were born at term and those born preterm.
Conclusion
LBW and the factors leading to it should be considered cautiously as possible predictors of certain infant behavioural features and parental interventions during infant's sleep.
Zusammenfassung
Fragestellung
In dieser Studie geht es um die Prüfung einer möglichen Assoziation von niedrigem Geburtsgewicht mit bestimmten Verhaltensmerkmalen während des Schlafes zwei Monate alter Säuglinge.
Patienten und Methodik
Wir untersuchten 83 im Zeitraum 2000 bis 2002 in St. Petersburg geborene Säuglinge (35 Jungen, 48 Mädchen), die unter die konventionelle Definition eines niedrigen Geburtsgewichtes (LBW, low birth weight, <2500 g Geburtsgewicht) fielen. Von diesen waren 66 (30 Jungen, 36 Mädchen) leicht und frühgeboren (Gestationsalter ≤36 Wochen), und 17 (8 Jungen, 9 Mädchen) waren leicht, aber am Termin geboren. Sie wurden mit 112 gesunden, am Termin mit normalem Gewicht geborenen Säuglingen (51 Jungen, 61 Mädchen) nach Geschlecht, Geburtstag, Kalenderalter zum Zeitpunkt der Studie und möglichst naher geographischer Verteilung innerhalb der Stadt verglichen. Die Mütter wurden gebeten, einen Fragebogen das Kind betreffend auszufüllen, mütterliche und demographische Hauptcharakteristiken betreffend, wie auch die auffälligsten klinischen Anzeichen und Symptome während der Tages- und Nachtzeit. Zum Interview gehörte auch das Ausfüllen eines Fragebogens zu Verhalten smerkmalen des Kindes während des Schlafes auf der Basis des Fragebogens für kindliche Schlafgewohnheiten.
Ergebnisse
LBW-Kinder wiesen eine längere totale Schlafzeit auf (Mittelwerte), prinzipiell aufgrund längeren Nachtschlafes. Häufig gaben die Eltern von LBW-Kindern an, dass die Kinder zu lange schliefen und während des Transportes einschliefen. Zur zu Bettgehzeit waren sie eher bereit zu Schlafen, aber verlangten häufiger nach der Anwesenheit der Eltern und wurden erst einmal ins elterliche Bett gelegt. Diese Assoziationen blieben signifikant, nachdem die hauptsächlichen potentiellen Störgrößen im Modell aufgenommen wurden. Die Wachzeit während der Nacht unterschied sich nicht zwischen den Gruppen, allerdings wurden die LBW-Kinder häufiger ins elterliche Bett gelegt, wenn sie wach waren. Es wurden keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen LBW-Kindern, die zum Termin bzw. frühgeboren waren, gefunden.
Schlussfolgerung
LBW und die Faktoren, die dazu führen, sollten sorgfältig als mögliche Prädiktoren für bestimmte Verhaltensweisen der Säuglinge betrachtet werden und für elterliche Interventionen während des Schlafes des Säuglings.
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Kelmanson, I.A., Adulas, E.I. Low birth weight and sleep behaviour in two-month-old infants. Somnologie 6, 155–160 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-054X.2002.02191.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-054X.2002.02191.x