Early‐onset neonatal sepsis is associated with a high heart rate during automatically selected stationary periods. (9th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Nga; Vandenbroucke, Laurent; Hernández, Alfredo; Pham, Tu; Beuchée, Alain; Pladys, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 106:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 749
• Page End: 754
• Publication Date: 2017-03-09
• Subjects: Heart rate -- Heart rate variability -- Neonatal sepsis -- Newborn infant -- Signal processing; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.13782
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: This study examined the heart rate variability characteristics associated with early‐onset neonatal sepsis in a prospective, observational controlled study. Methods: Eligible patients were full‐term neonates hospitalised with clinical signs that suggested early‐onset sepsis and a C‐reactive protein of >10 mg/L. Sepsis was considered proven in cases of symptomatic septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia or enterocolitis. Heart rate variability parameters (n = 16) were assessed from five‐, 15‐ and 30‐minute stationary sequences automatically selected from electrocardiographic recordings performed at admission and compared with a control group using the U‐test with post hoc Benjamini‐Yekutieli correction. Stationary sequences corresponded to the periods with the lowest changes of heart rate variability over time. Results: A total of 40 full‐term infants were enrolled, including 14 with proven sepsis. The mean duration of the cardiac cycle length was lower in the proven sepsis group than in the control group (n = 11), without other significant changes in heart rate variability parameters. These durations, measured in five‐minute stationary periods, were 406 (367–433) ms in proven sepsis group versus 507 (463–522) ms in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Early‐onset neonatal sepsis was associated with a high mean heart rate measured during automatically selected stationary periods.