Asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction is a risk factor for respiratory inhibition after crying in infants

AbstractObjective: We investigated whether intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) correlated with respiratory inhibition after crying (RIAC) and feeding hypoxemia.Methods: We screened for RIAC among 1248 infants with a gestational age ≥36 weeks using our established method with cranial ultrasound, SpO2 monitoring, and polygraphy. We classified the infants into three groups: symmetric IUGR, asymmetric IUGR, and control. We compared the perinatal factors with the incidence of RIAC and feeding hypoxemia among the three groups.Results: Overall, 26 infants had symmetric IUGR, 143 infants had asymmetric IUGR, and 1079 infants were in the control group. RIAC was observed in 10 (6.9%) infants in the asymmetric IUGR group and in 37 (3.4%) infants in the control group. Feeding hypoxemia was observed in 15 (10.5%) infants in the asymmetric IUGR group and in 52 (4.8%) infants in the control group. The incidence of RIAC and feeding hypoxemia in the asymmetric IUGR group was significantly more than that in the control ...