Sleep position, autonomic function, and arousal

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. F189 - F194
• Main Authors: Galland, B C, Reeves, G, Taylor, B J, Bolton, D P G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.05.1998; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Arousal - physiology; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Female; head-up tilting; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; heart rate variability; Humans; Infant; Infants; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Original; Posture - physiology; prone position; Prone Position - physiology; Respiration - physiology; SIDS; Sleep; Sleep - physiology; Studies; Sudden infant death syndrome; supine position; Supine Position - physiology; Human; Heart rate; Sleep; Pathogenesis; Autonomic nervous system; Sudden death; Variability; Arousal; Patient position; Child
• ISSN: 1359-2998; 1468-2052
• DOI: 10.1136/fn.78.3.F189

AIMS To investigate and compare heart rate variability (HRV) and responses of heart rate and arousal to head-up tilting in infants sleeping prone and supine. METHODS Thirty seven healthy infants aged 2–4 months were studied. HRV was measured for 500 beats while they were in a horizontal position. Subjects were then tilted 60° head-up, and heart rate recorded over 1 minute and arousal responses observed. Data were collected during both quiet and active sleep for both prone and supine sleep positions. RESULTS HRV, as assessed by the point dispersion of Poincaré plots, was significantly reduced in the prone position for both sleep states. Sleep position did not influence the changes in heart rate seen during a head-up tilt. Full awakening to the tilt was common in active sleep but significantly less so in the prone position (15% of prone tests vs 54% supine). Full awakening to the tilt rarely occurred during quiet sleep in either sleep position. CONCLUSION This study provides some evidence that blunted arousal responses and/or altered autonomic function are a feature of the prone sleeping position. Decreased HRV may be a sign of autonomic impairment. It is seen in many disease states and in infants who later die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).