Compared to full term , premature infants exhibit significant differences in sleep structure , which mainly include differences in electroencephalographic spectral values , in total sleep time and in arousal threshold .
Furthermore , prematurity seems to be a risk factor of sleep breathing disorders in childhood and adolescence .
Conclusions The alterations in sleep patterns are an outcome of prematurity ( immaturity of nervous system ) as well as of postnatal factors and comorbidities .
Sleep problems in this population of infants seems to be a missing piece of the puzzle of impaired neurodevelopment .
Background Sleep undergoes changes from birth to adulthood , while sleep disorders are associated with various cognitive deficiencies in childhood .
In parallel , prematurity is known to predispose to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes .
Our aim is to provide literature data about factors influencing sleep in the premature infants and sleep outcomes in this population .
Randomized controlled trial to compare sleep and wake in preterm infants less than 32weeks of gestation receiving two different modes of non-invasive respiratory support.
AIM To determine whether respiratory support via heated humidified high flow nasal cannulae ( HHHFNC ) results in infants < 32weeks gestation spending a greater proportion of time in sleep compared to those receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure ( NCPAP ) . METHODS A subgroup of infants enrolled in a r and omized controlled trial to compare HHHFNC or NCPAP post-extubation had sleep and wake activity measured by actigraphy for 72hours post-extubation . Activity diaries were completed contemporaneously to record episodes of infant h and ling . Actigraphy data were downloaded with known periods of h and ling excluded from the analysis . RESULTS 28 infants with mean gestation of 28.3weeks ( SD 2 ) and birth weight 1074 g ( SD 371 ) were studied . Infants receiving HHHFNC  spent a lesser proportion of time in sleep 59.8 % ( SD 18.5 ) than those on NCPAP 82.2 % ( SD 23.8 ) p=0.004 . Infants receiving HHHFNC had a lower sleep efficiency and higher mean activity score than those on NCPAP ( p=0.003 , p=0.002 , respectively ) . CONCLUSION Infants receiving HHHFNC  had a higher mean activity score and spent less time in sleep than those allocated NCPAP . Further study of sleep wake activity in preterm infants receiving respiratory support is required as this may impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes
Compared to full term , premature infants exhibit significant differences in sleep structure , which mainly include differences in electroencephalographic spectral values , in total sleep time and in arousal threshold .
Furthermore , prematurity seems to be a risk factor of sleep breathing disorders in childhood and adolescence .
Conclusions The alterations in sleep patterns are an outcome of prematurity ( immaturity of nervous system ) as well as of postnatal factors and comorbidities .
Sleep problems in this population of infants seems to be a missing piece of the puzzle of impaired neurodevelopment .
Background Sleep undergoes changes from birth to adulthood , while sleep disorders are associated with various cognitive deficiencies in childhood .
In parallel , prematurity is known to predispose to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes .
Our aim is to provide literature data about factors influencing sleep in the premature infants and sleep outcomes in this population .