DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR CONTROL DURING SLEEP IN HUMAN INFANTS AFTER PRETERM BIRTH

Funding Activity

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Funded Activity Summary

Infants spend the major part of their life in sleep, and the period between birth and 6 months of age sees dramatic changes in their sleep organisation. Coincidently, there are dramatic developmental changes in the infant's heart and blood pressure control systems, and the ability to compensate for stress such as falls of blood pressure (hypotension) or in the level of oxygen in the blood (hypoxaemia). In infants born preterm, the risks of hypoxaemia, and even death are significantly greater during sleep than during wakefulness, but why this is so is uncertain. This study will examine the ability of infants to respond to stress during sleep. Four groups of infants will be examined: healthy infants born at normal gestation; healthy infants born prematurely (preterm); preterm infants who have experienced mild hypoxaemia soon after birth; and preterm infants who have suffered more severe hypoxaemia because of lung disease. Infants will be studied in a sleep laboratory during day-time sleep, and their ability to control blood pressure will be determined. By contrasting the effectiveness of blood pressure control between the infant groups we aim to determine whether preterm infants have lasting problems as a result of their premature birth, or their exposure to hypoxaemia. By contrasting infants in sleep and wakefulness, we aim to assess whether the risks of poorer blood pressure control are greater in sleep.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $358,537.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Paediatrics

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

APNOEA OF PREMATURITY | AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM | BLOOD PRESSURE | BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA | CARDIORESPIRATORY CONTROL | CNS FUNCTION | INFANT, PREMATURE | PERINATAL PHYSIOLOGY | PREMATURITY | SLEEP