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Apnea in infants

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Abstract

Objective

The main objective of this study was to describe frequency of risk factors in newborns who present different types of apnea in polysomnographic (PSG) recordings in neonatal care units.

Methods

The study was carried out in neonatal care units of a perinatal tertiary level institution in Mexico City between August 2002 and August 2003. Infants were selected from among 223 infants if they presented any type of apnea event in sleep PSG recordings.

Results

Nearly 25% of patients from a neonatal care unit presented apnea events. Infants with apnea showed lower values of age, weight, and cephalic perimeter at birth than infants without apnea, but did not show more neurologic risk factors. Central apnea events were more frequent in infants with preterm birth (birthweight <1,500 g), obstructive apnea events were observed in infants with hyperbilirubinemia and gastro-esophageal reflux, while mixed events were seen in infants with sepsis, and hyperbilirubinemia. Sleep PSG recordings detected that 36% of infants with apnea have no previous clinic suspicion of the problem.

Conclusion

Central events of apnea were found more frequent in infants with preterm birth, obstructive events in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and gastroesophagic reflux, while infants mixed apnea had more frequent hyperbilirubinemai and sepsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Sleep Disorders, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico, Mexico City

    Adrián Poblano MD, DSc

  2. Laboratory of Cognitive Neurophysiology, National Institute of Rehabilitation, Mexico City

    Adrián Poblano MD, DSc

  3. Department of Neonatology, National Medical Center “20th of November”, ISSSTE, Mexico City

    Aída Márquez

  4. Department of Neonatology, General Hospital n. 32, IMSS, Mexico City

    Aída Márquez

  5. Mexican Center for Neuropediatrics, Mexico City

    Guadalupe Hernández

Authors
  1. Adrián Poblano MD, DSc
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  2. Aída Márquez
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  3. Guadalupe Hernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adrián Poblano MD, DSc.

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Poblano, A., Márquez, A. & Hernández, G. Apnea in infants. Indian J Pediatr 73, 1085–1088 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02763050

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