Respiratory patterns in neonates hospitalized with brief resolved unexplained events

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is aimed at investigating and evaluating respiratory patterns between infants hospitalized with brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) and the control group. Methods: A convenient sampling method was used to select 52 patients presented at an urban, tertiary, and teaching pediatric hospital fitting the American Academy of Pediatrics' criteria of a lower-risk BRUE from December 2019 to December 2020. A random probability sampling method was used to select 52 patients as a control group. A NINIX apnea monitoring device was used to record respiratory time patterns and analyzed with SPSS 25. Results: A total of 104 participants participated in the study. Our study found that inspiration time (0.31 ± 0.04), expiratory time (0.93 ± 0.14), respiratory rate (38.48 ± 4.38), body temperature (37.11 ± 0.20), and heart rate (137.90 ± 6.60) were not statistically different between both groups. Mean birth weight in the control group and BRUE were respectively (3.43 ± 0.39, 3.23 ± 0.35). Mean gestational age in the control and BRUE groups were respectively (38.94 ± 1.01, 39.0 ± 1.04). Mean postnatal age in the control and BRUE groups were respectively (17.19 ± 6.07, 17.32 ± 7.35). Birth weight (P = 0.08) was statistically significant between both groups. In one patient, we recorded breath arrest for more than 20 s. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in respiratory patterns between infants hospitalized with BRUE and the control group. Low birth weight and low APGAR score are possible risk factors for infants experiencing BRUE, and more investigations are required to establish underlying causes.