Sleep Apnoea in Infancy

Abstract

Serial polygraphic sleep studies were carried out in 86 index infants (33 ‘symptomatic’, 24 siblings of infants with the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 29 ‘near-miss’ for SIDS) and 11 healthy controls. Brief (≥ 3 < 6 sec) or prolonged (≥ 6 sec) obstructive apnoea was observed only in index caes, and coincided with symptoms due to associated illnesses (usually respiratory). Their prevalence was comparable in ‘symptomatic’ and ‘near-miss’ groups — 39% and 35% respectively. Prolonged (≥ 20 sec) central apnoea was seen only in pre-term ‘near-miss’ infants. Dips in transcutaneous oxygen tension ≥ 15 mmHg occurred during sleep in 17% of ‘symptomatic’ infants and 19% of ‘near-miss’ cases, usually in association with obstructive or central apnoea. Diminution or disappearance of these abnormalities following clinical recovery from ‘minor’ illnesses suggested that they were the result of such illnesses.