Associations between Parasympathetic Activity in the Month after Birth and Wheeze at Age 2–3 Years

Increased Heart Rate Variability Response Among Infants with Reported Rhinorrhea and Watery Eyes: A Pilot Study

“…7,9,21 Furthermore, we recently reported that increased high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), an indicator of increased PNS activity, measured in infancy, predicted wheeze at age 2-3 years in children. 22 Our current study provides additional evidence to suggest that infants with altered PNS signaling may manifest this through increased HRV and RWWC, which in turn could potentially serve as a means to identify and survey young children at greater risk of asthma symptoms (Figure 2). We are unaware of other studies investigating the ANS and infant rhinorrhea.…”

Report of prenatal maternal demoralization and material hardship and infant rhinorrhea and watery eyes

“…We have previously revealed an association between ANS dysregulation in the first month of life and childhood wheezing. 9 There are several limitations to acknowledge in this study. First, RWWC was assessed by maternal report through a questionnaire.…”

“…8 We also previously have found an association between high-frequency variation in heart rate, a measure of parasympathetic function, in the first month after birth and wheezing later in childhood, especially among girls. 9 Collectively, these findings suggest a connection between early-life ANS regulation and the development of subsequent asthma-related symptoms.…”