Am J Perinatol 2012; 29(05): 369-376
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1300970
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Blunted Heart Rate Circadian Rhythms in Small for Gestational Age Infants during the Early Neonatal Period

Esmot Ara Begum
1   Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Motoki Bonno
1   Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Naoya Sasaki
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Yusuke Omori
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Kazuyuki Matsuda
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Noriko Sugino
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Shigeki Tanaka
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Hatsumi Yamamoto
1   Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
,
Masaru Ido
2   Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

27 May 2011

15 September 2011

Publication Date:
03 February 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Infants born with intrauterine growth restriction are at increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in neonatal and later life. Although circadian rhythm is a prognostic marker of cardiovascular health, the concern over the circadian rhythm of these infants is rarely observed. To determine the influence of intrauterine growth retardation on the pattern of circadian rhythm, heart rate (HR) circadian rhythmicity was analyzed in 39 small for gestational age (SGA; birth weight and height below <−2.0 standard deviation score [SDS]) and 117 appropriate for gestational age (AGA; >−1.5 to <1.5 SDS) infants within 72 hours of birth using spectral analysis and cosinor analysis. Amplitude, midline estimating statistic of rhythm, and acrophase calculated from circadian rhythm were analyzed with clinical variables. A significant HR circadian rhythm was observed in 23.1% of the SGA and 24.8% of the AGA group without significant differences; however, SGA infants exhibited remarkable smaller amplitudes compared with AGA in all gestational age (GA) groups (p < 0.001). Amplitudes in AGA infants were positively correlated with the GA or body composition relevant variables (p < 0.001, respectively), but not SGA infants. The blunted HR circadian rhythmicity in SGA infants showed in this study might indicate the vulnerability to pathophysiological condition and could potentially refer to cardiovascular disease in later life.