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Neuropediatrics 1982; 13: 21-28
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1059630
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sleep Apneas in Normal Neonates and Infants During the First 3 Months of Life1

R.  Flores-Guevara1 , P.  Plouin2 , L.  Curzi-Dascalova3 , M. -F. Radvanyi3 , S.  Guidasci4 , N.  Pajot4 , N.  Monod5
  • 1Attaché d' EEG, Maternité de Port-Royal, Paris, France
  • 2Assistant d' EEG, Hôpital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Paris, France
  • 3Chargées de Recherche INSERM, Paris, France
  • 4Techniciennes de Recherche INSERM, Paris, France
  • 5Maître de Recherche INSERM, Paris, France
1 This work was supported by grant C.L.77.5.034-4 from INSERM.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
30 April 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Sleep polygraphic recording was carried out on 52 normal full-term babies. 16 infants were recorded at 2 - 7 days of age, 14 at 2 to 5 weeks, 13 at 6 to 9 weeks and 9 at 10 - 13 weeks.

Central apneas of 2 sec and over were analysed in Active Sleep (AS), Quiet Sleep (QS) and Transitional Sleep (TS). Apnea Index (AI, percent of non-breathing) and Number of Apneas (NA) per 100 min of sleep state (for 2 - 4 sec, ≥ 5 sec, ≥ 6 sec and ≥ 10 sec apneas) were determined. Obstructive and mixed apneas were tabulated separately. % of Periodic Breathing (PB) was also determined. These results were statistically tested using different methods.

AI and number of < 5 sec apneas are higher in AS than in QS during the period studied. A decrease of AI and NA occurs before the end of the 2nd month both in AS and QS. During the first five weeks of postnatal life the AI, the NA and the % of PB are higher in infants born at 38 - 39 weeks of Gestational Age (GA) than in infants born at 40 - 42 weeks.

A positive correlation between short apneas (< 5 sec) and apneas≥ 5 sec was found in AS and in total sleep.

Obstructive and mixed apneas were very infrequent.

Apneas are not affected by recording technique, sex or sleeping position of infants.

There is a great interindividual variability of NA, particularly during the first month of life.

Little normative data has been published so far concerning the incidence of respiratory apneas during day sleep in full-term infants recorded by polygraphy.

Key words

Sleep apneas - Normal infants

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