Developmental consequences of short apneas and periodic breathing in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between respiratory events experienced before and after hospital discharge and developmental outcomes at 6 months corrected age (CA). STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants born between 28–32 weeks gestational age (GA) were studied at 32–36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), 36–40 weeks PMA, 3- and 6-months CA. Percentage total sleep time (%TST) with respiratory events (isolated apneas, sequential apneas and periodic breathing (PB)) at each study was calculated. Stepwise multiple linear regressions determined significant predictors of developmental outcomes at 6 months. RESULT: %TST with respiratory events at term were significant predictors of language (R(2) = 0.165, β = −0.416) and motor (R(2) = 0.180, β = −0.485) composite scores of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 6 months, independent of GA, birth weight and sex. CONCLUSIONS: In clinically stable very preterm infants at term equivalent age, time spent having respiratory events, was related to a reduction in language and motor outcomes at 6 months.