Table 3. Fetal Heart Rate Patterns (HRPs) and Behavioral States (Macroanalysis; Incidences in Italics), and Incidences of General Movements and Numerical Heart Rate Parameters (Microanalysis) for the Comparison Group and the Unmedicated and Total Medicated Study Groups.
| Comparison group |
Study group |
ANOVA; P-valuea | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmedicated | Total medicated | |||
| T1; 15–19 weeks of gestation | ||||
| General movements (% of recording)b | 12.0 (0.4) | 13.6 (0.9) | 16.1 (0.5)c,d | F(2, 215)=20.78; P<0.0001 |
| T2; 27–29 weeks of gestation | ||||
| Episodes of HRPA (% of time) | 17.5 (1.2) | 22.3 (2.6) | 11.7 (1.2)c,d | F(2, 242 )=9.52; P<0.0001 |
| General movements during HRPA (%) | 2.2 (0.4) | 1.9 (0.7) | 4.1 (0.6)c,d | F(2, 98)=4.20; P<0.005 |
| Basal fetal heart rate during HRPA (b.p.m.) | 145 (0.9) | 144 (1.8) | 144 (1.2) | F(2, 98)=0.44; P=0.64 |
| Long-term variability during HRPA (ms) | 26.7 (0.9) | 29.8 (2.5) | 29.9 (1.7) | F(2, 98)=1.52; P=0.23 |
| Episodes of HRPB (% of time) | 82.5 (1.2) | 77.7 (2.7) | 88.3 (1.2)c,d | F(2, 242)=9.52; P<0.0001 |
| General movements during HRPB (%)b | 11.6 (0.4) | 13.0 (0.8) | 15.4 (0.5)c | F(2, 241)=14.20; P<0.0001 |
| Basal fetal heart rate during HRPB (b.p.m.) | 145 (0.5) | 143 (1.1) | 145 (0.7) | F(2, 242)=2.20; P=0.11 |
| Long-term variability during HRPB (ms)b | 40.6 (0.7) | 43.8 (1.1) | 46.5 (2.1)c | F(2, 241)=7.03; P<0.001 |
| T3; 37–39 weeks of gestation | ||||
| Episodes of HRPA (% of time) | 33.4 (1.3) | 36.8 (2.3) | 37.8 (1.7) | F(2, 202)=2.53; P=0.083 |
| General movements during HRPA (%)b | 2.1 (0.2) | 1.9 (0.4) | 3.9 (0.2)c,d | F(2, 201)=27.40; P<0.0001 |
| Basal fetal heart rate during HRPA (b.p.m.) | 135 (0.7) | 134 (1.6) | 137 (0.8) | F(2, 202)=2.51; P=0.084 |
| Long-term variability during HRPA (ms) | 32.3 (0.9) | 37.0 (2.0) | 42.6 (1.4)c,d | F(2, 202)=21.28; P<0.0001 |
| Episodes of HRPB (% of time) | 66.6 (1.3) | 63.2 (2.3) | 62.2 (1.7) | F(2, 202)=2.53; P=0.083 |
| General movements during HRPB (%) | 11.0 (0.4) | 12.6 (0.7) | 11.8 (0.5) | F(2, 202)=2.43; P=0.091 |
| Basal fetal heart rate during HRPB (b.p.m.) | 138 (0.7) | 138 (1.3) | 139 (0.8) | F(2, 202)=1.00; P=0.37 |
| Long-term variability during HRPB (ms) | 63.7 (1.3) | 63.9 (2.3) | 61.8 (1.7) | F(2, 202)=0.48; P=0.62 |
| True behavioral states (% of time) | ||||
| State 1F | 28.3 (1.2) | 30.5 (2.2) | 23.2 (1.7)d | F(2, 198)=4.23; P<0.02 |
| State 2F | 57.6 (1.4) | 57.5 (2.5) | 56.4 (1.9) | F(2, 198)=0.15; P=0.80 |
| No-state identified | 14.1 (0.8) | 12.0 (1.3) | 20.4 (1.5)c,d | F(2, 198)=10.18; P<0.0001 |
a
Multivariable ANOVA testing for significant differences across the three main groups.
b
Adjusted for gestation at recording.
c
Total medicated group vs comparison group; 0.0001<P<0.05.
d
Total medicated group vs unmedicated group; 0.0001<P<0.05.
Data are presented as mean (SE) adjusted for gestation at recording where appropriate.
Definitions of fetal behavioral states: state 1F (quiet, non-REM sleep): absence of both general and eye movements, and heart rate pattern A (HRPA); state 2F (active, REM sleep): general and eye movements present, and HRPB.