Influence of stress factors on the vital signs of neonates under intensive care

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: The maintenance of regular development and maturation of the Central Neural System of the neonate in the first year, associated to the environmental conditions in which he is inserted, justify the scientific relevance of this research. Our objective was to describe the influence of stressful factors on hospitalized neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a teaching hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. The participants were observed in moments that were identified as being of more and less exposition to stress factors, in which the sound pressure, illuminance, quantity of procedures, presence of pain, besides the indicators of vital signs expressed by the patient’s monitor were registered. Results: Thirteen neonates, predominantly moderate premature babies of low weight, of c-section birth, average age of 8,0 ± 5,9 days, mostly female and breathing room air were evaluated. We noted that stress factors produced significant increase of the heart rate (sound pressure: p=0,001, illuminance: p<0,001, procedures: p=0,022), occurring the same with the respiratory rate (sound pressure: p<0,001, illuminance: p=0,022, procedures: p<0,001) and score obtained in the Neonatal Pain Evaluation Scale (sound pressure: p=0,001, illuminance: p=0,016, procedures: p<0,003), besides the reduction of peripheral oxygen saturation (sound pressure: p=0,011, illuminance: p=0,024, procedures: p<0,016), when compared to the periods of higher and lower exposition. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated the negative impact of the environmental factors and its influence on the vital signs of hospitalized neonates. KEYWORDS: Hospitalization, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Physiological Stress, Neonate, Physiotherapy.