Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • Register
  • Login
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login

Quality in Sport

The Innovative Approaches to Treating Apnea of Prematurity: From Sensory Stimulation to Aromatherapy
  • Home
  • /
  • The Innovative Approaches to Treating Apnea of Prematurity: From Sensory Stimulation to Aromatherapy
  1. Home /
  2. Archives /
  3. Vol. 37 (2025) /
  4. Medical Sciences

The Innovative Approaches to Treating Apnea of Prematurity: From Sensory Stimulation to Aromatherapy

Authors

  • Aleksandra Kocjan Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Osiedle Złotej Jesieni 1 street, 31-820 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5740-6867
  • Natalie Papachristoforou SP ZOZ MSWiA Hospital in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25 street, 30-053 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8417-3794
  • Daria Michałka NZOZ „Centrum Zdrowia i Profilaktyki Dąbie” sp. z o. o., Widok 31 street, 31-567 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6812-6543
  • Zuzanna Gałuszka SPZOZ Hospital in Myślenice, Szpitalna 2 street, 32-400 Myślenice https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1729-2146
  • Monika Makar Niepołomickie Centrum Profilaktyczno- Lecznicze, Stefana Batorego 41C street, 32-005 Niepołomice https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8023-6964
  • Tomasz Bartuś Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski University in Kraków, Gustawa Herlinga-Grudzińskiego 1 street, 30-705 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3980-3191
  • Natalia Tekiela SP ZOZ MSWiA Hospital in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25 street, 30-053 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5208-251X
  • Emilia Bąk SP ZOZ MSWiA Hospital in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25 street, 30-053 Kraków https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6407-4063
  • Justyna Głowacka Gabriel Narutowicz Municipal Hospital in Kraków, Prądnicka 35 street, 31-202 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8289-8822
  • Radosław Chmiel SP ZOZ MSWiA Hospital in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25 street, 30-053 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2726-6207

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.37.57616

Keywords

Apnea of prematurity (AOP), Preterm infants, Neonatal care, Caffeine therapy, sensory stimulation, Kangaroo mother care

Abstract

Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a significant health issue affecting neonates born before the 37th week of gestation. It results from the immaturity of respiratory control mechanisms and is often exacerbated by various coexisting factors, which can intensify symptoms and lead to severe health consequences. Despite extensive research on the underlying mechanisms of AOP, a single effective treatment has yet to be identified. Current therapies, such as caffeine administration, are associated with potential adverse effects. Emerging interventions, including sensory stimulation, carbon dioxide inhalation, positional changes, and aromatherapy, offer promising alternatives. These approaches have the potential to complement standard treatments while being less invasive.

References

1. Zhao J, Gonzalez F, Mu D. Apnea of prematurity: from cause to treatment. Eur J Pediatr. 2011 Sep;170(9):1097-105. doi: 10.1007/s00431-011-1409-6. Epub 2011 Feb 8. PMID: 21301866; PMCID: PMC3158333.

2. Pergolizzi J, Kraus A, Magnusson P, Breve F, Mitchell K, Raffa R, LeQuang JAK, Varrassi G. Treating Apnea of Prematurity. Cureus. 2022 Jan 31;14(1):e21783. doi: 10.7759/cureus.21783. PMID: 35251853; PMCID: PMC8890764.

3. Mathew OP. Apnea of prematurity: pathogenesis and management strategies. J Perinatol. 2011 May;31(5):302-10. doi: 10.1038/jp.2010.126. Epub 2010 Dec 2. PMID: 21127467.

4. Bruschettini M, Brattström P, Russo C, Onland W, Davis PG, Soll R. Caffeine dosing regimens in preterm infants with or at risk for apnea of prematurity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Apr 11;4(4):CD013873. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013873.pub2. PMID: 37040532; PMCID: PMC10089673.

5. Bairam A, Laflamme N, Drolet C, Piedboeuf B, Shah PS, Kinkead R; Canadian Neonatal Network Investigators. Sex-based differences in apnoea of prematurity: A retrospective cohort study. Exp Physiol. 2018 Oct;103(10):1403-1411. doi: 10.1113/EP086996. Epub 2018 Aug 5. PMID: 29974527

6. McDonald FB, Dempsey EM, O'Halloran KD. Caffeine therapy for apnoea of prematurity: Wake up to the fact that sex matters. Exp Physiol. 2018 Oct;103(10):1294-1295. doi: 10.1113/EP087222. Epub 2018 Aug 20. PMID: 30070403.

7. Al-Saif S, Alvaro R, Manfreda J, Kwiatkowski K, Cates D, Qurashi M, Rigatto H. A randomized controlled trial of theophylline versus CO2 inhalation for treating apnea of prematurity. J Pediatr. 2008 Oct;153(4):513-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.04.025. Epub 2008 Jun 4. PMID: 18534618.

8. Joseph LJ, Goldberg S, Picard E. CO2 treatment for apnea. J Pediatr. 2009 Apr;154(4):627-8; author reply 628-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.12.031. PMID: 19324232.

9. Khan A, Qurashi M, Kwiatkowski K, Cates D, Rigatto H. Measurement of the CO2 apneic threshold in newborn infants: possible relevance for periodic breathing and apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005 Apr;98(4):1171-6. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00574.2003. PMID: 15772056

10.Kesavan K, Frank P, Cordero DM, Benharash P, Harper RM. Neuromodulation of Limb Proprioceptive Afferents Decreases Apnea of Prematurity and Accompanying Intermittent Hypoxia and Bradycardia. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 15;11(6):e0157349. doi:

11- Oliveira TG, Rego MA, Pereira NC, Vaz LO, França DC, Vieira DS, Parreira VF. Prone position and reduced thoracoabdominal asynchrony in preterm newborns. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2009 Sep-Oct;85(5):443-8. English, Portuguese. doi: 10.2223/JPED.1932. PMID: 19830358.

12- Richmond CM, Ring F, Richmond L, Rossouw E, Ballard E, Birch P. 'Propped and prone' positioning reduces respiratory events in spontaneously breathing preterm infants: A randomised triple crossover study. J Paediatr Child Health. 2023 Jan;59(1):81-88. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16241. Epub 2022 Oct 31. PMID: 36314399; PMCID: PMC10092656.

13- Ballout RA, Foster JP, Kahale LA, Badr L. Body positioning for spontaneously breathing preterm infants with apnoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 9;1(1):CD004951. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004951.pub3. PMID: 28067942; PMCID: PMC6464155.

14. Abdel Mageed ASA, Olama KA, Abdel Rahman SA, El-Gazzar HE. The effect of sensory stimulation on apnea of prematurity. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021 Dec 10;17(2):311-319. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.10.016. PMID: 35592810; PMCID: PMC9073875.

15. Gaugler C, Marlier L, Messer J. Traitement des apnées idiopathiques du prématuré par stimulations sensorielles [Sensory stimulations for the treatment of idiopathic apneas of prematurity]. Arch Pediatr. 2007 May;14(5):485-9. French. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2007.01.013. Epub 2007 Feb 22. PMID: 17320360.

16. Henderson-Smart DJ, Osborn DA. Kinesthetic stimulation for preventing apnea in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD000373. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000373. PMID: 12076395.

17. Rustaee S, Rezapour-Nasrabad R, Ghazanfarpour M, Piri S, Moosavi Moqaddam SF, Behdarvandi A, Kafami Ladani F, Rahmah A, Mirzaei M. The Effects of Aroma on Apnea Attacks and Oxygen Saturation Among Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Galen Med J. 2023 May 8;12:e2846. doi: 10.31661/gmj.v12i.2846. PMID: 37779824; PMCID: PMC10540936.

18. Marlier L, Gaugler C, Messer J. Olfactory stimulation prevents apnea in premature newborns. Pediatrics. 2005 Jan;115(1):83-8. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-0865. PMID: 15629985.

19. Bergeron S, Champoux-Ouellet É, Samson N, Doyon M, Geoffroy M, Farkouh A, Bertelle V, Massé É, Cloutier S, Praud JP. Effects of vanilla odor on hypoxia-related periodic breathing in premature newborns: A pilot study. Arch Pediatr. 2024 Aug;31(6):369-373. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2024.03.002. Epub 2024 Jun 13. PMID: 38871544.

20. Gellrich J, Messer V, Lohrer EC, Zickmüller C, Croy I, Schlage S, Rüdiger M, Schriever VA. Vanilla odor promotes oral feeding in premature infants-A randomized controlled trial. Physiol Behav. 2024 Feb 1;274:114417. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114417. Epub 2023 Nov 25. PMID: 38013048.

21. Kanbur BN, Balci S. Impact of the odors of vanilla extract and breast milk on the frequency of apnea in preterm neonates. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2020 Jan;17(1):e12271. doi: 10.1111/jjns.12271. Epub 2019 Jun 26. PMID: 31241826.

22.Duchamp-Viret P, Nguyen HK, Maucort-Boulch D, Remontet L, Guyon A, Franco P, Cividjian A, Thevenet M, Iwaz J, Galletti S, Kassai B, Cornaton E, Plaisant F, Claris O, Gauthier-Moulinier H. Protocol of controlled odorant stimulation for reducing apnoeic episodes in premature newborns: a randomised open-label Latin-square study with independent evaluation of the main endpoint (PREMODEUR). BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 13;11(9):e047141. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047141. PMID: 34518252; PMCID: PMC8438960.

23. Erickson, G., Dobson, N.R. & Hunt, C.E. Immature control of breathing and apnea of prematurity: the known and unknown. J Perinatol 41, 2111–2123 (2021).

24. Montealegre-Pomar A, Bohorquez A, Charpak N. Systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that Kangaroo position protects against apnoea of prematurity. Acta Paediatr. 2020 Jul;109(7):1310-1316. doi: 10.1111/apa.15161. Epub 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 31916621.

25. Sontheimer D, Fischer CB, Scheffer F, Kaempf D, Linderkamp O. Pitfalls in respiratory monitoring of premature infants during kangaroo care. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1995 Mar;72(2):F115-7. doi: 10.1136/fn.72.2.f115. PMID: 7712268; PMCID: PMC2528385.

26. Conde-Agudelo A, Díaz-Rossello JL. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 23;2016(8):CD002771. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002771.pub4. PMID: 27552521; PMCID: PMC6464509.

27. Kurlak LO, Ruggins NR, Stephenson TJ. Effect of nursing position on incidence, type, and duration of clinically significant apnoea in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1994 Jul;71(1):F16-9. doi: 10.1136/fn.71.1.f16. PMID: 8092863; PMCID: PMC1061061.

28.Bell EF, Strauss RG, Widness JA, Mahoney LT, Mock DM, Seward VJ, Cress GA, Johnson KJ, Kromer IJ, Zimmerman MB. Randomized trial of liberal versus restrictive guidelines for red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2005 Jun;115(6):1685-91. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-1884. PMID: 15930233; PMCID: PMC2866196.

29. Valieva OA, Strandjord TP, Mayock DE, Juul SE. Effects of transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants: a retrospective study. J Pediatr. 2009 Sep;155(3):331-37.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.02.026. PMID: 19732577; PMCID: PMC3038786.

30. Westkamp E, Soditt V, Adrian S, Bohnhorst B, Groneck P, Poets CF. Blood transfusion in anemic infants with apnea of prematurity. Biol Neonate. 2002;82(4):228-32. doi: 10.1159/000065891. PMID: 12381929.

31. Poets CF, Brockmann PE. Myth: gastroesophageal reflux is a pathological entity in the preterm infant. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2011 Oct;16(5):259-63. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2011.05.001. Epub 2011 Jun 12. PMID: 21664203.

32.Di Fiore JM, Arko M, Whitehouse M, Kimball A, Martin RJ. Apnea is not prolonged by acid gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2005 Nov;116(5):1059-63. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-2757. PMID: 16263989.

33. Corvaglia L, Zama D, Gualdi S, Ferlini M, Aceti A, Faldella G. Gastro-oesophageal reflux increases the number of apnoeas in very preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2009 May;94(3):F188-92. doi: 10.1136/adc.2008.143198. Epub 2008 Sep 11. PMID: 18786960.

34. Corvaglia L, Zama D, Spizzichino M, Aceti A, Mariani E, Capretti MG, Galletti S, Faldella G. The frequency of apneas in very preterm infants is increased after non-acid gastro-esophageal reflux. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011 Apr;23(4):303-7, e152. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2010.01650.x. Epub 2010 Dec 22. PMID: 21175996.

35. Biswas T, Sabui TK, Roy S, Mondal R, Majumdar S, Misra S. Transpyloric Feed in Reflux-Associated Apnea in Preterm Newborns: A Prospective Study. HCA Healthc J Med. 2023 Jun 28;4(3):229-234. doi: 10.36518/2689-0216.1417. PMID: 37434910; PMCID: PMC10332374.

36. Quitadamo P, Giorgio V, Zenzeri L, Baldassarre M, Cresi F, Borrelli O, Salvatore S. Apnea in preterm neonates: what's the role of gastroesophageal reflux? A systematic review. Dig Liver Dis. 2020 Jul;52(7):723-729. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2020.03.032. Epub 2020 May 15. PMID: 32423847.

37. Bloch-Salisbury E, Hall MH, Sharma P, Boyd T, Bednarek F, Paydarfar D. Heritability of apnea of prematurity: a retrospective twin study. Pediatrics. 2010 Oct;126(4):e779-87. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0084. Epub 2010 Sep 13. PMID: 20837586.

Downloads

  • PDF

Published

2025-01-27

How to Cite

1.
KOCJAN, Aleksandra, PAPACHRISTOFOROU, Natalie, MICHAŁKA, Daria, GAŁUSZKA, Zuzanna, MAKAR, Monika, BARTUŚ, Tomasz, TEKIELA, Natalia, BĄK, Emilia, GŁOWACKA, Justyna and CHMIEL, Radosław. The Innovative Approaches to Treating Apnea of Prematurity: From Sensory Stimulation to Aromatherapy. Quality in Sport. Online. 27 January 2025. Vol. 37, p. 57616. [Accessed 9 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2025.37.57616.
  • ISO 690
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

Issue

Vol. 37 (2025)

Section

Medical Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Aleksandra Kocjan, Natalie Papachristoforou, Daria Michałka, Zuzanna Gałuszka, Monika Makar, Tomasz Bartuś, Natalia Tekiela, Emilia Bąk, Justyna Głowacka, Radosław Chmiel

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Stats

Number of views and downloads: 199
Number of citations: 0

Search

Search

Browse

  • Browse Author Index
  • Issue archive

User

User

Current Issue

  • Atom logo
  • RSS2 logo
  • RSS1 logo

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Newsletter

Subscribe Unsubscribe

Tags

Search using one of provided tags:

Apnea of prematurity (AOP), Preterm infants, Neonatal care, Caffeine therapy, sensory stimulation, Kangaroo mother care
Up

Akademicka Platforma Czasopism

Najlepsze czasopisma naukowe i akademickie w jednym miejscu

apcz.umk.pl

Partners

  • Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie
  • Akademickie Towarzystwo Andragogiczne
  • Fundacja Copernicus na rzecz Rozwoju Badań Naukowych
  • Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
  • Instytut Tomistyczny
  • Karmelitański Instytut Duchowości w Krakowie
  • Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Krośnie
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych we Włocławku
  • Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa im. Stanisława Pigonia w Krośnie
  • Polska Fundacja Przemysłu Kosmicznego
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
  • Towarzystwo Miłośników Torunia
  • Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
  • Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
  • Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
  • Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
  • Uniwersytet Warszawski
  • Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna - Książnica Kopernikańska
  • Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Pelplinie / Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne „Bernardinum" w Pelplinie

© 2021- Nicolaus Copernicus University Accessibility statement Shop