Abstract
Background: Infants of smoking (SM) and substance abusing (SA) mothers have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We have shown that newborns of SM and SA mothers have a dampened ventilatory response to hypercarbia (1).
Aims and objectives: To test the hypothesis that infants of SA and of SM mothers compared to infants of non-substance abusing, non-smoking mothers (controls) would have a poorer ventilatory response to hypercarbia at the high risk age for SIDS.
Methods: Infants were assessed at 2-4 months of age. The hypercarbic challenge was delivered via a face mask and pneumotachograph through a custom made open circuit system. The ventilatory responses to three levels of inspired carbon dioxide (0%, 2% and 4% CO2) were assessed.
Results: 10 SA, 10 SM and 10 control infants were assessed. Both the SA and SM infants had a lower ventilatory response to 2% (p=0.006) and 4% (p=0.01) CO2. The slope of ventilatory response to hypercarbia was higher in controls compared to SM and SA infants (p=0.023) .
| Control | SM | SA | |
| Baseline minute volume (ml/kg/min) | 250(200-360) | 283(210-395) | 34(15-66) |
| % change in minute volume at 2% CO2 | 50(19-78) | 23 (5-51) | 19 (13-45) |
| % change in minute volume at 4% CO2 | 75(39-133) | 45(18-93) | 35 (18-55) |
| Slope of ventilatory response mg/kg/min/%CO2 | 41(23-90) | 34(15-66) | 29 (18-55) |
Conclusion: These results suggest a dampened response to hypercarbia may contribute to the increased risk of SIDS in SA and SM infants.
Reference
Ali K, Wolff K, Peaock JL, et al. Ventilatory response to hypercarbia in newborns of smoking and substance-misusing mothers. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2014;11:993-8.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
