P141 Periodic breathing in preterm infants before and after hospital discharge

INTRODUCTION: Preterm infants have immature respiratory control that can manifest as periodic breathing (PB). We aimed to investigate the relationship between time spent in PB before and after hospital discharge. METHODS: Preterm infants born between 28-32 weeks gestational age were studied during daytime sleep in the supine position for 2-4 hours at 32-36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA) (N=40), 36-40 weeks PMA (N=27), 3 months (N=20) and 6 months (N=26) corrected age (CA). The amount of PB was determined as percentage of total sleep time (TST) spent in PB (%TSTPB). Infants were grouped into below and above the median (8.5%TSTPB) at 32-36 weeks and compared to 36-40 weeks, 3 and 6 months with Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: %TSTPB was not different between 32-36 weeks PMA (median 8.5%; IQR 1.5, 15.0) and at 36-40 weeks PMA (6.6% (0.9, 15.1), and then decreased at 3 (0.4%; 0.0, 2.0) and 6 months CA (0%; 0.0, 1.1). Infants who were above the median %TSTPB at 32-36 weeks PMA spent more time in PB at 36-40 weeks PMA [18.05% (7.7, 23.9) vs 2.1% (0.6, 6.4)] and 6 months CA [0.9% (0.0, 3.3) vs 0.0% (0.0, 0.0)]. CONCLUSIONS: Percentage sleep time spent in PB did not decrease as preterm infants approached term CA, when they were ready to be discharged home. Preterm infants who had higher amounts of PB at 32-36 weeks PMA continued to have higher amounts of PB at term CA and their PB persisted up to 6 months CA.