Infant home apnea monitors generally monitor both respiratory and heart rates. An alarm will sound if there is respiratory cessation (apnea) beyond a predetermined time limit (e.g., 20 seconds), or if the heart rate falls below a preset rate (bradycardia). This document addresses the use of infant home apnea monitors.

Medically Necessary:

Home cardiorespiratory (i.e., apnea) monitoring is considered medically necessary in any of the following infants:

1. Those who have experienced an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). An ALTE is defined as an episode that is frightening to observe and is characterized by some combination of apnea (central or occasionally obstructive), color change (usually cyanotic or pallid but occasionally erythematous or plethoric), marked change in muscle tone (usually marked limpness), choking, or gagging. If monitored due to ALTE, use of an apnea monitor is considered medically necessary until event free for 2 to 3 months.  
2. Those with tracheostomies or anatomic abnormalities of the face, tongue, jaw or airway that make them vulnerable to airway compromise. *
3. Those with neurologic or metabolic disorders affecting respiratory control. *
4. Those with chronic lung disease (i.e., bronchopulmonary dysplasia), particularly those requiring supplemental oxygen; continuous positive airway pressure; or mechanical ventilation. *
5. Those with apnea of prematurity, defined as sudden cessation of breathing that lasts for at least 20 seconds or is accompanied by bradycardia (heart rate less than 80 beats per minute) or oxygen desaturation (O2 saturation less than 90% or cyanosis) in an infant with early home discharge prior to term (38 weeks). Continued use is considered medically necessary up to 43 weeks postmenstrual age or event free for 2 weeks, whichever comes later.
6. Those discharged home on a schedule of weaning narcotics. *
7. Those with bradycardia on caffeine, theophylline, or similar agents, until event free for 2 weeks off medication.
8. Those with diagnosis of pertussis, with positive cultures. If monitored for pertussis, use of a monitor is considered medically necessary for up to one month post diagnosis.
9. Those with diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that results in apnea (at least 20 seconds), bradycardia (heart rate less than 80 beats per minute), or oxygen desaturation (O2 saturation less than 90% or cyanosis), until event free for 6 weeks.

* Note: See Duration section below.

Other considerations:

1. The home monitor should be equipped with an event recorder.
2. The physician should establish a specific plan for periodic review and termination of the home monitor before initiating therapy.

Note: Short-term monitoring to assist the family transition to home may be indicated in some cases following a previous sibling death from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or following a particularly complex and protracted neonatal hospital course.

Not Medically Necessary:

Home apnea monitoring is considered not medically necessary for infants who do not meet the medically necessary criteria listed above.

Duration:

• Infant apnea monitors are usually considered medically necessary for approximately 3 months except for specific conditions listed above.
• Continued use of an apnea monitor is considered medically necessary, even when infants become 12 months old during the course of a specified medically necessary duration of use.
• Apnea monitoring beyond 12 months old requires physician documentation supporting the continuation of monitoring.   

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this document are included below for informational purposes.  Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy.  Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

Infant home apnea monitors were designed with the purpose of protecting infants by identifying central apnea or bradycardia and signaling for parental intervention to prevent death (Halbower, 2008). Data recording devices are also now used with the monitor so the health care provider can study the event. There are a variety of indications for prescribing infant home apnea monitors and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued policy statements regarding the use of the device.

The AAP 2003 policy statement regarding apnea, SIDS, and home cardiorespiratory monitoring (i.e., apnea monitoring) does not recommend apnea monitoring to prevent SIDS, noting the theory that apneic episodes are related to SIDS has never been proven in spite of extensive research over several decades. This document also notes there is no evidence that the presence of apnea or bradycardia can identify a group at increased risk of SIDS, that home monitoring can provide warning in time for intervention to prevent sudden death, or that intervention would be successful in preventing unexpected death. The statement concludes: "given the lack of evidence that home cardiorespiratory monitoring has any impact on SIDS, prevention of SIDS is not an acceptable indication for home cardiorespiratory monitoring." The AAP recommends that pediatricians should promote proven practices that decrease the risk of SIDS such as supine sleep position, safe sleeping environments, and elimination of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke. Parents should be advised that home cardiorespiratory monitoring has not been proven to prevent sudden unexpected deaths in infants.

However, it is recognized that the later siblings of infants who died of SIDS present a unique emotional and clinical dilemma. Many clinicians suggest monitoring such infants until they are one month older than the age at which the sibling died, and remain event free. Although such use is not directly supported by specific evidence in the peer reviewed medical literature, it may be impossible to preclude monitoring if one or more siblings has died of SIDS. Short-term monitoring to assist the family transition to home may be indicated in some cases following a previous sibling death from SIDS or following a particularly complex and protracted neonatal hospital course.

The 2003 policy statement and reaffirmed in 2005 by the AAP also identified infants who could benefit from home monitoring, not because of an increased risk of SIDS, but because of other factors that increase the risk of sudden death. These infants include those that have:

• experienced an ALTE
• tracheostomies or anatomic abnormalities that make them vulnerable to airway compromise
• neurologic or metabolic disorders affecting respiratory control
• chronic lung disease (i.e., bronchopulmonary dysplasia), particularly those requiring supplemental oxygen; continuous positive airway pressure; or mechanical ventilation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2011) identifies apnea monitors as "a complete system intended to alarm primarily upon the cessation of breathing timed from the last detected breath. The apnea monitor also includes indirect methods of apnea detection, such as monitoring of heart rate and other physiological parameters linked to the presence or absence of adequate respiration."

Types of Apnea
There are three types of infantile apnea: central, obstructive, and mixed. 

Central Apnea: Central apnea is characterized by complete cessation of respiratory efforts on the monitor and is usually related to central nervous system injury, very premature infants in whom the respiratory center in the brain is immature, depressant medications (e.g., narcotics, sedatives), or metabolic conditions (e.g., hypoglycemia). The chest is still and no air passes through the nose or mouth. 

Obstructive Apnea: A common type of apnea in children, obstructive apnea is caused by an obstruction of the airway (such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids) and is most likely to happen during sleep when the soft tissue at back of the throat is most relaxed. In obstructive apnea, there is no airflow below the glottis though the monitor will continue to demonstrate breathing movements. The chest is moving, but no air passes through the nose or mouth. Infant home monitoring may identify heart rate changes that can accompany episodes of obstructive apnea.

Mixed Apnea: Mixed apnea is a combination of central and obstructive apnea and is seen particularly in infants or young children who have abnormal control of breathing. Mixed apnea may occur when a child is awake or asleep.

Monitors that are equipped with an event recorder are able to capture and store data surrounding significant events, such as heart rate and rhythm, for later analysis by a physician. If home cardiorespiratory monitoring is prescribed, the monitor should be equipped with an event recorder. Information from the monitor can be used to distinguish the type of apnea and allow for a distinct treatment plan based on the etiology. 

Peer Reviewed Publications:

1. Freed GE, Meny R, Glomb WB, and Hageman JR. Effect of home monitoring on a high-risk population. J Perinatol. 2002; 22(2):165-167.
2. Halbower AC. Pediatric home apnea monitors: coding, billing, and updated prescribing information for practice management. Chest. 2008; 134(2):425-429.
3. Hoppenbrouwers T, Hodgman JE, Ramanathan A, Dorey F. Extreme and conventional cardiorespiratory events and epidemiologic risk factors for SIDS. J Pediatr. 2008; 152(5):636-641.
4. Jobe AH. What do home monitors contribute to the SIDS problem? JAMA. 2001; 285(17):2244-2245.
5. Naulaers G, Daniels H, Alleqaert K, et al. Cardiorespiratory events recorded on home monitors: the effect of prematurity on later serious events. Acta Paediatr. 2007; 96(2):195-198.
6. Ramanathan R, Corwin MJ, Hunt CE, et al. Cardiorespiratory events recorded on home monitors: comparison of healthy infants with those at increased risk for SIDS. JAMA. 2001; 285(17):2199-2207.
7. Silvestri JM. Indications for home apnea monitoring (or not). Clin Perinatol. 2009; 36(1):87-99.

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statement 2003. Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Apnea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and home monitoring. Pediatrics Vol. 111 No. 4 April 2003, pp. 914-917. Available at: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;111/4/914.pdf. Accessed on May 26, 2011. 
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Hospital discharge of the high-risk neonate. Pediatrics. 2008; 122: 1119-1126. Available at: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;122/5/1119.pdf. Accessed on May 26, 2011.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics. Task Force on Infant Sleep Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Changing concepts of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: implications for infant sleeping environment and sleep position. Pediatrics. 2000; 105:650-656. Available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/105/3/650. Accessed on May 26, 2011.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The changing concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Policy Statement. Pediatrics. 2005; 116(5):1245-1255. Available at: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;116/5/1245. Accessed on May 26, 2011.

Apnea
Apnea Monitor
Apparent Life Threatening Event (ALTE)
Home Cardiorespiratory Monitor
Infant Home Apnea Monitors
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome