Heart rate, respiratory rate, apnoeas and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation in healthy term neonates during quiet sleep

Aim This study compiled percentiles for cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy term neonates during quiet sleep. Methods We enrolled 215 healthy term neonates born at Hannover Medical School, Germany, between October 2011 and March 2013. They were prospectively observed on the maternity ward at a median age of two days using six‐hour recordings of pulse oximeter plethysmography, oxygen saturation, thoracic breathing movements and electrocardiogram during sleep in a supine position. We examined their heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation during quiet sleep, plus bradycardias, apnoeas lasting at least four‐seconds and desaturations below 85%. Results The 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles were calculated as follows: heart rate 87, 112 and 133 beats per minute, respiratory rate 32, 44 and 57 per minute and oxygen saturation 94, 98 and 100%. Desaturations, apnoeas and bradycardias below 80 beats per minute were common and recorded in 54%, 98% and 30% of participants. In contrast, only 7% experienced bradycardias of less than two‐thirds of the baseline heart rate and 5% experienced apnoeas exceeding 15 seconds. Conclusion Our results will facilitate the evidence‐based valuation of cardiorespiratory parameters in term neonates and help validate the significance of cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants at discharge.