Effect of Caffeine on Heart Rate Variability in Newborns

Heart Rate Variability Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effect of Caffeine for Apnoea Treatment on Heart Rate Variability in Newborns

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04869176
• Other study ID #: 0120-458/2016-3
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 17, 2017
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: April 2021
• Source: University of Ljubljana
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of caffeine treatment, given either orally or intravenously, on heart rate variability in newborns. In addition, the investigators sought for a potential association between caffeine treatment and vital functions.

Description:

At Neonatal Department of University Medical Centre Ljubljana caffeine is used to treat neonatal apnoea. It has known affects on central nervous and cardiovascular systems, but little is known about the impact of caffeine intake on heart rate variability (HRV) in newborns. In this study, the investigators performed measurements on one sample of 25 newborns with apnoea who had been admitted to the Neonatal Department of University Medical Centre Ljubljana and treated with caffeine citrate. The treatment regimen consisted of caffeine citrate of a loading dose of 20 mg/kg of body mass, followed by a daily maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg after 24 hours. The investigators measured parameters of HRV in two situations: while the treatment with caffeine citrate was ongoing and after the treatment was withdrawn. The newborns served as controls. Electrical activity of the heart was measured with a Holter ECG while the newborn was sleeping in supine position, first without a bed tilt and afterwards with a 30° head-up tilt. Simultaneously was evaluated the alertness of the newborn and measured their physiological variables (the breathing frequency, the heart rate, the arterial oxygen saturation, and the body temperature). All parents were given their written consent for their child to participate in the study.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 25
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: July 31, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A to 4 Weeks

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• newborns with apnoea treated with caffeine citrate
• newborns whose parents have signed the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe perinatal hypoxia
• infection
• liver or renal insufficiency
• neurological disorders
• congenital anomalies

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Apnea
• Caffeine
• Heart Rate Variability
• Newborn

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Electrocardiogram
Recording of the electrical activity of the heart during sleep; sleep phases were evaluated. The bed was initially in horizontal position and tilted for 30° head-up after 20 minutes of continuous tracing.
• Monitoring of vital functions
Measuring of heart rate, breathing frequency, arterial oxygen saturation and body temperature while recording ECG.

Drug:
• Caffeine Citrate 5 mg/kg
Caffeine in the form of suspension was given to the newborns.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Slovenia	University Medical Centre Ljubljana	Ljubljana

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Ljubljana

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Slovenia, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Association between caffeine treatment and total power (TP) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. TP (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study, using student's t-test for comparisons of normally distributed variables, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for abnormally distributed data.	During Procedure
Primary	Association between caffeine treatment and high frequency (HF) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. HF (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study, using student's t-test for comparisons of normally distributed variables, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for abnormally distributed data.	During Procedure
Primary	Association between caffeine treatment and low frequency (LF) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. LF (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study, using student's t-test for comparisons of normally distributed variables, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for abnormally distributed data.	During Procedure
Secondary	The correlation between postmenstrual age and total power (TP) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. TP (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The correlation between HRV parameters and postmenstrual age was tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient.	During Procedure
Secondary	The correlation between postmenstrual age and high frequency (HF) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. HF (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The correlation between HRV parameters and postmenstrual age was tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient.	During Procedure
Secondary	The correlation between postmenstrual age and low frequency (LF) spectrum of HRV	While the newborn was sleeping, the electrical activity of the heart was recorded by using ECG Holter. LF (ms2) was obtained from a suitable 5-minute ECG segment analysed by fast Fourier transform, using the Vision Premier Programme for each bed tilt. The correlation between HRV parameters and postmenstrual age was tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient.	During Procedure
Secondary	The effect of caffeine on heart rate	Heart rate (beats per minute) was obtained from the segments, recorded by ECG Holter and analysed by the Vision Premier Programme. The selected segments corresponded to the segments HRV parameters were obtained for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study.	During Procedure
Secondary	The effect of caffeine on breathing frequency	Breathing frequency (breaths per minute) was determined manually by observing the chest movement. The measurement was performed three times while the newborn was sleeping for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study.	During Procedure
Secondary	The effect of caffeine on arterial oxygen saturation	Arterial oxygen saturation (percent) was performed by a pulse oximeter attached to the right hand. The arterial oxygen saturation value was noted three times with the corresponding breathing frequency while the newborn was sleeping for each bed tilt. The values were compared across the two arms of the study.	During Procedure
Secondary	The effect of caffeine on body temperature	Body temperature (degree Celsius) was measured by a frontal non-contact infrared thermometer three times for each bed tilt while the newborn was sleeping. The values were compared across the two arms of the study.	During Procedure