Respiratory Rate During the First 24 Hours of Life in Healthy Term Infants

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Abnormal respiratory rate (RR) is a key symptom of disease in the newborn. The aim of this study was to establish the reference range for RR during the first 24 hours of life in healthy infants born at term.

Physiological vital sign ranges in newborns from 34 weeks gestation: A systematic review

“…The studies included in this review were either an interrupted time series without a parallel control group (n=8) 15,16,18-21, 23, 24 , cohort study (n=1) 22 or case series (n=1) 17 and received evidence levels of III-3 (N=10). [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The quality of the quantitative studies varied with seven of the ten indicating 'weak' 15,16,[18][19][20]22,24 quality; two of moderate 17,21 quality and the remaining study of strong 23 quality.…”

“…The five vital signs have been investigated by researchers in ten primary studies: heart rate (n=1), 15 respiratory rate (n=1), 16 temperature (n=1), 17 blood pressure (n=4) [18][19][20][21] and oxygen saturation (n=3). [22][23][24] These are presented in Table 1.…”

“…The populations studied included term (n=6) [15][16][17]19,20 or both preterm and term newborns (n=4). 18,[22][23][24] In addition, the researchers reported results as means or percentiles.…”

“…18,[22][23][24] In addition, the researchers reported results as means or percentiles. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]24 Only one study in which the researchers investigated peripheral capillary oxygen saturations at varying altitudes, indicated a reference range.…”

“…The data capture period in the majority of these studies occurred between one and six days following birth. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Rather than presenting normal ranges which would be useful in the clinical setting, the studies presented results as means, which makes their interpretation into clinical practice or for the purpose of early warning tools difficult. Interestingly, textbooks present definitive vital sign parameter ranges, 6,35,47 although the evidence or sources for these ranges is difficult to ascertain in many of these publications.…”