Heart rate variability and salivary cortisol in very preterm children during school age. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Urfer-Maurer, Natalie; Ludyga, Sebastian; Stalder, Tobias; Brand, Serge; Holsboer-Trachsler, Edith; Gerber, Markus; Grob, Alexander; Weber, Peter; Lemola, Sakari
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 87(2018)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Preterm birth -- Heart rate variability -- HPA axis activity -- Salivary cortisol -- School-aged children -- Polysomnography; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Children born very preterm had lower LF/HF ratio during wake and stage 2 sleep. LF, Tot Pow, and LF/HF ratio were positively related with morning cortisol secretion. The results indicate long-term ANS alterations after very preterm birth. The results support the notion of a feedback system between the ANS and the HPA axis. Abstract: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a major role in the human stress response and reflects physical and psychological adaptability to a changing environment. Long-term exposure to early life stressors may alter the function of the ANS. The present study examines differences in the ANS between children born very preterm and full-term as well as the association between the ANS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the other main branch of the human stress system. Fifty-four healthy children born very preterm (<32nd gestational week) and 67 full-term children aged 7–12 years provided data for the present study. Polysomnography (PSG) assessments were obtained during a night at the children's home in lying position at rest (wake) and during different sleep stages (stage 2 sleep, slow wave sleep, rapid-eye-movement sleep). Autonomic function was assessed by use of heart rate variability, specifically low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), total spectral power (Tot Pow), and the LF/HF ratio. HPA axis activity was measured using salivary cortisol the next morning at awakening, 10, 20, and 30 min later. Children born very preterm had lower LF/HF ratio during wake and stage 2 sleep compared to full-term children. Moreover, higher LF, Tot Pow, and LF/HF ratio during wake, stage 2 sleep, and REM sleep were related to more post-awakening cortisol secretion. The present study provides evidence on long-term ANS alterations after very preterm birth. Moreover, findings suggest a relation between the ANS and the HPA axis and therefore support the notion of mutual feedback between the two human stress systems.