PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to analysis the effects of nasal Continuous Postive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) for preterm infants using systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Thirteen peer-reviewed journals including preterm infants and apnea and nCPAP published between 1973 and 2013 were included. Effect size and statistics of homogeneity were done using STATA 10.0.
RESULTS
The design for 9 studies was Randomized Control Trial. In most of studies the pressure of nCPAP was set to 4-6 cmH2O. The effect size of 5 studies for the effect on apnea rate using nCPAP compared to nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nIPPV) showed that the Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was -0.11 and was not significantly different (Z=0.41, p=.680). But the difference in nCPAP for nasal Synchronizes Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nSIPPV) (subgroup) was significant (SMD=-.44). The effect size of 7 studies on effect for ventilator weaning of using nCPAP compared to nIPPV showed the Risk Ratio (RR) as 1.60 and was not significantly different (Z=1.12, p=.268). But the difference between nCPAP and nSIPPV (subgroup) was significant (RR=3.94).
CONCLUSION
The results indicate a need for an advanced care system and suggest continuous studies of apnea in preterm infants.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to identify how regular stimulation affects apnea of a premature infant.
METHOD
This study was used a within-subjects design with repeated measure using GEE (General Estimating Equation) and had been conducted from July 1, 2003 to March 12, 2004. The subjects consisted of 11 apneic premature infants who had showed apnea more than twice for 12 hours. A regularly vibrating test lung was provided to the subjects to find how regular stimulation affects apnea.
RESULT
From the result of regular stimulation for apneic premature infants, both the lowest SaO2 and the lowest heart rate at experimental period were found to be increased significantly. However, the decreased frequency of the apnea cases was not statistically effective.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that regular stimulation for apneic premature infants could be effective on increasing both SaO2 and heart rate. Therefore, we suggest regular stimulation to be used clinically to heal apnea of premature infants.