Low Apgar scores are associated with long-term neurological morbidity

Leinonen E, Gissler M, Haataja L, Rahkonen P, Andersson S, Metsäranta M, Rahkonen L. Low Apgar scores at both one and five minutes are associated with long-term neurological morbidity. Acta Paediatr. 2018 Jan 23. doi:10.1111/apa.14234. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

AIM:

This study evaluated the associations between low Apgar scores at one and five minutes and long-term neurological impairments.

METHODS:

This study used population-based data on 399,815 singletons born in Finland in 2004-2010 and multivariable logistic regression to examine any associations between low (0-3) and intermediate (4-6) Apgar scores and cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability and sensorineural defects by the age of four years.

RESULTS:

The odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) showed that low Apgar scores were associated with cerebral palsy at one and five minutes (ORs 2.08, 95% CI 1.32-3.26 and 5.19, 95% CI 3.06-8.80), epilepsy (ORs 1.62, 95% CI 1.13-2.33 and 4.79, 95% CI 3.03-7.56), and intellectual disability (ORs 2.46, 95% CI 1.45-4.16 and 6.21, 95% CI 3.33-11.58). Only a low five-minute Apgar score was associated with sensorineural defects (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.95-5.02). Neurological impairment risks were increased by low Apgar scores at both one and five minutes (OR 11.1, 95% CI 8.6-14.5), but 90.3% of children with persistent low Apgar scores had no impairment.

CONCLUSION:

Low one-minute and five-minute Apgar scores were associated with long-term neurological morbidity, especially when both scores were low.

Courtesy of:  https://www.mdlinx.com/neurology/medical-news-article/2018/04/30/low-apgar-scores-long-term-neurological/7511845