Authors:
Maristella Lucchini
1
;
Devy Widjaja
2
;
Carolina Varon
2
;
Katrien Jansen
3
and
Sabine Van Huffel
2
Affiliations:
1
KU Leuven, Belgium
;
2
KU Leuven and iMinds, Belgium
;
3
University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
Keyword(s):
Phase-Rectified Signal Averaging, Heart Rate Variability, Autonomic Nervous System, Quasi-Periodicities, Non-Stationary Signals.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Applications and Services
;
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Signal Processing
;
Cardiovascular Signals
;
Computer Vision, Visualization and Computer Graphics
;
Medical Image Detection, Acquisition, Analysis and Processing
Abstract:
Aim: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is determined by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and a low value of this parameter is related to neurological pathologies and infants mortality. This study aims to assess the utility and the advantages of HRV analysis by means of phase-rectified signal averaging (PRSA), a technique that obtains curves that are useful to determine the development of the ANS in preterm infants, with less obtrusive monitoring compared to electroencephalography.
Methods: For a preliminary study, 24-hour ECGs were taken in NICU at the University Hospital in Leuven, from 12 babies: 4 were term, 4 were born preterm but reached a term postmenstrual age, and 4 were preterm. Heart rate tracks of segments of 27 minutes were extracted and analyzed with the PRSA technique. The curves obtained were quantified by the slope and by an acceleration/deceleration related parameter (AC/DC). Two independent analyses on acceleration and deceleration were carried out to visualize the e
ffects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system separately. Moreover, the immediate response and the response after 5 seconds were taken into account.
Results and Conclusion: All the results were compared and validated with traditional HRV parameters. The results of slope and AD/DC in both types of analysis are promising in providing a simple parameter to assess neurological development deficiency in order to allow faster and preventive intervention. Further studies are needed in a larger population.
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