PERIODIC AND NON‐PERIODIC SLEEP APNEA IN PREMATURE AND FULLTERM INFANTS

Abstract

The sleep states of 9 premature infants were observed and concomitant respiration recordings were obtained at 37 and 41 wk conceptional age. Full-term infants (19) were also studied at 41 wk conceptional age. Between 37 and 41 wk significant decreases occurred in the premature infants'' percentage of periodic apnea, rate of apnea in active sleep-REM [rapid eye movement], and length of the longest apneic episode. The premature and full-term infants at 41 wk did not differ in the frequency of apneic episodes, but the premature group had shorter episodes. These results provide additional evidence for the difference between and full-term infants in CNS organization.