Objectives To evaluate whether kangaroo mother care (KMC) in preterm infants on non-invasive respiratory support improves indices of cardiorespiratory wellbeing.

Study design Prospective quasi-experimental observational study.

Setting Tertiary perinatal neonatal unit.

Patients 50 very preterm infants being managed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Interventions Continuous high-resolution preductal pulse-oximetry recordings using Masimo Radical-7 oximeter for 1 hour (incubator care) followed by 1 hour during KMC performed on the same day.

Main outcome measures Measures of cardiorespiratory stability (dips in oxygen saturations (SpO₂)) of ≥5% less than baseline, % time spent with oxygen saturations <90%, SpO₂ variability and heart rate fluctuation and incidence of bradycardias.

Results The gestational age and birth weight of the cohort were 28.4±2.1 weeks and 1137±301 g, respectively. Dips in SpO₂ of ≥5% less than baseline were significantly fewer with KMC, median (IQR) 24 (12 to 42) vs 13 (3 to 25), p=0.001. SpO₂ variability (Delta 12 s and 2 s), (1.24±0.6 vs 0.9±0.4, p=0.005 and 4.1±1.7 vs 2.8±1.2, p<0.0001) and rapid resaturation and desaturation indices were significantly lower during KMC, compared with incubator care. Percentage time spent in oxygen saturations <90% was less with KMC (7.5% vs 2.7%, p=0.04). Mean heart rate was comparable although fluctuations in heart rate (rise by >8 bpm) were lower with KMC (43±22 vs 33±20, p=0.03). Seven (14%) infants had bradycardias during incubator care and none during KMC, p=0.012.

Conclusions KMC improves cardiorespiratory stability in ventilated preterm infants. Regular KMC has the potential to improve clinical outcomes in this vulnerable cohort.