Archive | 2021
The Effects of Different Music Genres on Heart Rate Variability in Extremely and Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Neonates: an Italian Randomized Pilot Study
Abstract
\n Background: Music and music therapy, live or recorded, has been gradually introduced in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of our Hospital in addition to standard medical and nursing care, to improve premature neonates’ neurophysiological development. The present study focused on music genres, starting from the parents’ sound experience and musical tastes that neonates experienced during the pregnancy period. The study explored the effects of different music genres also on Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) neonates since most studies refer to Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) neonates with birth weight > 1000 gr. The study aims to investigate the influence of different music genres on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) of preterm neonates.Methods: a prospective randomized study was conducted. Preterm neonates (gestational age <32 weeks, birth weight <1500g), were recruited. On the basis of birth order, they underwent a daily randomized music listening program (25 minutes, every day, for 3 days) based on different music genres listening (soft pop-rap, pop-rock and classical music), followed by 1 day of no music monitoring (25 minutes). An electrocardiogram was performed to evaluate HRV parameters in each neonate with and without music exposure.Results: twenty-seven (13 ELBW, birthweight <1000 g and 14 VLBW, birthweight 1000-1500 g) infants were included and HRV parameters were analysed. In the VLBW group no significant results were found between the music genres. In the ELBW group, during Soft Pop-Rap music listening, starting after 5 minutes High Frequency (HF) increase significantly (HF P =0.0096) and Low Frequency (LF) and LF/HF indices decrease significantly (LF P= 0.0096; LF/HF P=0.0068). The same trend was from 15 minutes of music listening high frequency (HF) increased and low frequency (LF) decreased (LF P=0.007; HF P= 0.007), Consequently LF/HF also decreased significantly (LF/HF P = 0.0093).Conclusion: A significant decrease in the activity of the sympathetic and a simultaneous increase of the parasympathetic nervous system were found in the ELBW group during Soft Pop-Rap music listening. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04049526 The Effects of different music genres on heart rate variability in extremely and very low birth weight new-borns.