Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters
BACKGROUND: Previous researchers have studied circadian changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) on small sample sizes and in a strictly controlled environment. This study was undertaken to investigate these changes during the late second and third trimesters, using a portable fetal electrocardiogram r...
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Springer Nature
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47006/ |
| _version_ | 1848797447382368256 |
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| author | Kapaya, Habiba Broughton Pipkin, Fiona Hayes-Gill, Barrie Loughna, Pamela V. |
| author_facet | Kapaya, Habiba Broughton Pipkin, Fiona Hayes-Gill, Barrie Loughna, Pamela V. |
| author_sort | Kapaya, Habiba |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | BACKGROUND: Previous researchers have studied circadian changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) on small sample sizes and in a strictly controlled environment. This study was undertaken to investigate these changes during the late second and third trimesters, using a portable fetal electrocardiogram recording device (Monica AN24) in pregnant women in home and hospital environments with unrestricted mobility.
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 54 pregnant women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between 25 and 40 weeks gestation. FHR recordings were made up to 16 h at home or in the hospital setting in the United Kingdom. FHR data over 90 min periods were averaged and the day (7:00 am-11:00 pm) and night (11:00 pm-7:00 am) data from the same individual were compared. Data were examined for evidence of sex-related differences.
RESULTS: During the night, there was a significant reduction in basal heart rate (bFHR) and a significant increase in short term variation (STV) and long term variation (LTV) (P < 0.05). Basal FHR decreased (P < 0.002), whereas LTV increased (P = 0.014) with advancing gestation. Male fetuses showed greater day: night variation than females regardless of gestation (P = 0.014). There was a higher bFHR in fetuses monitored during the day in hospital (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there are sex-, environment and time-related differences in the FHR parameters measured. These differences may need to be considered taken when interpreting FHR data. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:04:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-47006 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:04:01Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | nottingham-470062024-08-15T15:20:19Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47006/ Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters Kapaya, Habiba Broughton Pipkin, Fiona Hayes-Gill, Barrie Loughna, Pamela V. BACKGROUND: Previous researchers have studied circadian changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) on small sample sizes and in a strictly controlled environment. This study was undertaken to investigate these changes during the late second and third trimesters, using a portable fetal electrocardiogram recording device (Monica AN24) in pregnant women in home and hospital environments with unrestricted mobility. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 54 pregnant women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between 25 and 40 weeks gestation. FHR recordings were made up to 16 h at home or in the hospital setting in the United Kingdom. FHR data over 90 min periods were averaged and the day (7:00 am-11:00 pm) and night (11:00 pm-7:00 am) data from the same individual were compared. Data were examined for evidence of sex-related differences. RESULTS: During the night, there was a significant reduction in basal heart rate (bFHR) and a significant increase in short term variation (STV) and long term variation (LTV) (P < 0.05). Basal FHR decreased (P < 0.002), whereas LTV increased (P = 0.014) with advancing gestation. Male fetuses showed greater day: night variation than females regardless of gestation (P = 0.014). There was a higher bFHR in fetuses monitored during the day in hospital (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there are sex-, environment and time-related differences in the FHR parameters measured. These differences may need to be considered taken when interpreting FHR data. Springer Nature 2016-09-02 Article PeerReviewed Kapaya, Habiba, Broughton Pipkin, Fiona, Hayes-Gill, Barrie and Loughna, Pamela V. (2016) Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters. Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology, 2 (1). p. 9. ISSN 2054-958X Circadian Fetal heart rate Fetal heart rate monitoring Electronic fetal monitoring Fetal electrocardiogram Fetal sex Pregnancy https://mhnpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40748-016-0037-6 doi:10.1186/s40748-016-0037-6 doi:10.1186/s40748-016-0037-6 |
| spellingShingle | Circadian Fetal heart rate Fetal heart rate monitoring Electronic fetal monitoring Fetal electrocardiogram Fetal sex Pregnancy Kapaya, Habiba Broughton Pipkin, Fiona Hayes-Gill, Barrie Loughna, Pamela V. Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title | Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title_full | Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title_fullStr | Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title_short | Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| title_sort | circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters |
| topic | Circadian Fetal heart rate Fetal heart rate monitoring Electronic fetal monitoring Fetal electrocardiogram Fetal sex Pregnancy |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47006/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47006/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47006/ |