Table 3 HRV and blood pressure characteristics according to the two groups of randomization.

From: Hydrocortisone administration in preterm infants is not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in childhood

Characteristics median [interquartile], n (missing data or %)

Hydrocortisone N = 28

Placebo N = 24

P value

Supine measurements

 Heart rate /min

76 [70; 88]

70 [66; 78]

0.091

 VLF, ms2

1354 [666; 2199]

2336 [878; 3821]

0.128

 LF, ms2

1339 [514; 2131]

1746 [1036; 2237]

0.295

 LFnu, %

47 [38; 60]

47 [39; 53]

0.790

 HF, ms2

976 [628; 1707]

1332 [884; 2249]

0.295

 HFnu, %

43 [30; 49]

40 [28; 46]

0.588

 LF/HF ratio

1.10 [0.72; 1.96]

1.14 [0.86; 1.62]

0.769

 Ascendant BRS, ms/mmHg (missing)

18.5 [8.4; 34.4] (6)

22.4 [17.5; 39.5] (6)

0.289

 Descendant BRS, ms/mmHg (missing)

17.3 [10.0; 32.4] (2)

29.4 [14.7; 33.2] (5)

0.175

Deep breathing measures

 Heart rate /min

81 [70; 93]

74 [66; 79]

0.065

 VLF, ms2

1360 [699; 3794]

1303 [547; 2516]

0.779

 LF, ms2

3123 [1775; 4200]

3788 [2534; 6508]

0.065

 LFnu, %

64 [52; 78]

70 [59; 81]

0.203

 HF, ms2

1201 [759; 1881]

1526 [831; 2476]

0.367

 HFnu, %

27 [19; 38]

23 [15; 31]

0.293

 LF/HF ratio

2.29 [1.47; 4.00]

3.16 [1.80; 5.59]

0.307

Standing measurements

 Heart rate/min

96 [89; 106]

95 [86; 101]

0.408

 VLF, ms2

753 [369; 1235]

650 [281; 1496]

0.727

 LF, ms2

1019 [801; 1952]

1004 [718; 1962]

0.713

 LFnu, %

58 [48; 70]

63 [53; 71]

0.557

 HF, ms2

515 [320; 921]

388 [227; 1001]

0.295

 HFnu, %

28 [20; 38]

25 [19; 36]

0.503

 LF/HF ratio

2.01 [1.22; 3.42]

2.25 [1.51; 3.64]

0.497

 Ascendant BRS, ms/mmHg (missing)

6.0 [4.3; 9.3] (6)

7.8 [6.5; 10.7] (6)

0.128

 Descendant BRS, ms/mmHg (missing)

5.6 [4.5; 9.6] (4)

7.3 [4.1; 11.3] (2)

0.809

 ΔSBP (standing minus supine BP), mmHg (missing)

+28 [+21; +47] (2)

+28 [+11; +49] (1)

0.707

 ΔDBP (standing minus supine BP), mmHg (missing)

+32 [+16; +54] (2)

+38 [+12; +62] (1)

0.804

 Exaggerated orthostatic pressure response, n (%)

22 (79)

15 (62)

0.234

Office blood pressure (BP)

 Systolic BP, mmHg

106 [101; 112]

108 [103; 114]

0.344

 Systolic BP percentile

59 [44; 69]

57 [46; 83]

0.594

 Diastolic BP, mmHg

63 [59; 67]

63 [60; 65]

0.861

 Diastolic BP percentile

51 [39; 65]

51 [36; 60]

0.840

 Elevated BP/hypertension, n (%)

3 (11) / 1 (4)

2 (8) / 3 (12)

0.476

ABPM

 Daytime SBP, mmHg

109 [105; 113]

111 [104; 114]

0.643

 Daytime SBP, percentile

39 [23; 52]

40 [24; 48]

0.887

 Daytime DBP, mmHg

68 [63; 72]

68 [64; 72]

0.850

 Daytime DBP, percentile

35 [14; 54]

34 [17; 56]

0.977

 Nighttime SBP, mmHg

99 [95; 105]

100 [96; 105]

0.428

 Nighttime SBP, percentile

56 [45; 68]

54 [47; 67]

0.771

 Nighttime DBP, mmHg

55 [51; 60]

56 [51; 58]

0.944

 Nighttime DBP, percentile

55 [43; 73]

55 [43; 66]

0.904

 Nighttime systolic dipping, %

10 [5; 14]

7 [5; 10]

0.193

 Nighttime diastolic dipping, %

17 [13; 21]

17 [12; 22]

0.992

 Elevated BP/hypertension, n (%)

2 (7)/2 (7)

2 (8)/1 (4)

0.893

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