POLICY STATEMENT Organizational Principles to Guide and Define the Child Health Care System and/or Improve the Health of all Children

The Apgar Score AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS COMMITTEE ON OBSTETRIC PRACTICE

The Apgar score provides an accepted and convenient method for reporting abstract the status of the newborn infant immediately after birth and the response to resuscitation if needed. The Apgar score alone cannot be considered as evidence of, or a consequence of, asphyxia; does not predict individual neonatal mortality or neurologic outcome; and should not be used for that purpose. An Apgar score assigned during resuscitation is not equivalent to a score assigned to a spontaneously breathing infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage use of an expanded Apgar score reporting form that accounts for concurrent resuscitative interventions.

This document is copyrighted and is the property of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Board of Directors. All authors have filed conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of INTRODUCTION Pediatrics. Any conflicts have been resolved through a process approved by the Board of Directors. The American Academy of In 1952, Dr Virginia Apgar devised a scoring system that was a rapid Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial method of assessing the clinical status of the newborn infant at 1 minute involvement in the development of the content of this publication. of age and the need for prompt intervention to establish breathing.1 Policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics benefit Dr Apgar subsequently published a second report that included a larger from expertise and resources of liaisons and internal (AAP) and external reviewers. However, policy statements from the American number of patients.2 This scoring system provided a standardized Academy of Pediatrics may not reflect the views of the liaisons or the assessment for infants after delivery. The Apgar score comprises 5 organizations or government agencies that they represent. components: (1) color; (2) heart rate; (3) reflexes; (4) muscle tone; and The guidance in this statement does not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking (5) respiration. Each of these components is given a score of 0, 1, or 2. into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate. Thus, the Apgar score quantitates clinical signs of neonatal depression, fl All policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics such as cyanosis or pallor, bradycardia, depressed re ex response to automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, stimulation, hypotonia, and apnea or gasping respirations. The score is revised, or retired at or before that time. reported at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth for all infants, and at Also published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Copyright October 2015 by 5-minute intervals thereafter until 20 minutes for infants with a score less the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 409 12th Street, SW, PO Box 96920, Washington, DC 20090-6920 and the American 3 than 7. The Apgar score provides an accepted and convenient method for Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd, PO Box 927, Elk Grove reporting the status of the newborn infant immediately after birth and the Village, IL 60009-0927. All rights reserved. ISSN 1074-8613 response to resuscitation if it is needed; however, it has been The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee inappropriately used to predict individual adverse neurologic outcome. Opinion no. 644: The Apgar score. Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126:e52–e55. Accepted for publication Jul 22, 2015

The purpose of the present statement was to place the Apgar score in its www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2015-2651 proper perspective. This statement revises the 2006 College Committee DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-2651 Opinion/American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement to include updated guidance from the 2014 report Neonatal Encephalopathy and PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275). Neurologic Outcome (second edition)4 published by the American College Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

Downloaded from www.aappublications.org/news by guest on September 25, 2021 PEDIATRICS Volume 136, number 4, October 2015 FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and between 1 minute and 5 minutes, is collaboration with the American significant metabolic acidosis. The a useful index of the response to Academy of Pediatrics, along with new term asphyxia, which describes resuscitation. If the Apgar score is guidance on neonatal resuscitation. a process of varying severity and less than 7 at 5 minutes, the Neonatal The guidelines of the Neonatal duration rather than an end point, Resuscitation Program guidelines Resuscitation Program state that the should not be applied to birth events state that the assessment should be Apgar score is useful for conveying unless specific evidence of markedly repeated every 5 minutes for up to information about the newborn impaired intrapartum or immediate 20 minutes.3 However, an Apgar score infant’s overall status and response to postnatal gas exchange can be assigned during resuscitation is not resuscitation. However, resuscitation documented on the basis of equivalent to a score assigned to must be initiated before the 1-minute laboratory test results. a spontaneously breathing infant.10 score is assigned. Therefore, the Apgar There is no accepted standard for score is not used to determine the LIMITATIONS OF THE APGAR SCORE reporting an Apgar score in infants need for initial resuscitation, what undergoing resuscitation after birth It is important to recognize the resuscitation steps are necessary, or because many of the elements limitations of the Apgar score. It is an when to use them.3 contributing to the score are altered expression of the infant’s physiologic An Apgar score that remains condition at 1 point in time, which by resuscitation. The concept of an 0 beyond 10 minutes of age may, includes subjective components. assisted score that accounts for however, be useful in determining There are numerous factors that can resuscitative interventions has been whether continued resuscitative influence the Apgar score, including suggested, but the predictive efforts are indicated because very few maternal sedation or anesthesia, reliability has not been studied. To infants with an Apgar score of 0 at congenital malformations, gestational correctly describe such infants and 10 minutes have been reported to age, trauma, and interobserver provide accurate documentation and survive with a normal neurologic variability.4 In addition, the data collection, an expanded Apgar outcome.3,5,6 In line with this biochemical disturbance must be score reporting form is encouraged outcome, the 2011 Neonatal significant before the score is (Fig 1). This expanded Apgar score Resuscitation Program guidelines affected. Elements of the score, such may also prove useful in the setting of state that “if you can confirm that no as tone, color, and reflex irritability, delayed cord clamping, in which the heart rate has been detectable for at can be subjective and partially time of birth (ie, complete delivery of least 10 minutes, discontinuation of depend on the physiologic maturity of the infant), the time of cord clamping, resuscitative efforts may be the infant. The score may also be and the time of initiation of appropriate.”3 affected by variations in normal resuscitation can all be recorded in transition. For example, lower initial the comments box. The Neonatal Encephalopathy and oxygen saturations in the first few Neurologic Outcome report defines The Apgar score alone cannot be minutes need not prompt a 5-minute Apgar score of 7 to 10 as considered to be evidence of or immediate supplemental oxygen reassuring, a score of 4 to 6 as a consequence of asphyxia. Many administration; the Neonatal moderately abnormal, and a score of other factors, including Resuscitation Program targets for 0 to 3 as low in the term infant and nonreassuring fetal heart oxygen saturation are 60% to 65% at 1 late-preterm infant.4 In that report, rate–monitoring patterns and minute and 80% to 85% at 5 minutes.3 an Apgar score of 0 to 3 at 5 minutes abnormalities in umbilical arterial The healthy preterm infant with no or more was considered a nonspecific blood gas results, clinical cerebral evidence of asphyxia may receive a low sign of illness, which “may be one of function, neuroimaging studies, score only because of immaturity.7,8 the first indications of neonatal electroencephalography, The incidence of low Apgar scores is encephalopathy.” However, placental pathology, hematologic inversely related to birth weight, and a persistently low Apgar score alone studies, and multisystem organ a low score cannot predict morbidity is not a specific indicator for dysfunction, need to be considered in or mortality for any individual diagnosing an intrapartum intrapartum compromise. infant.8,9 As previously stated, it is also hypoxic–ischemic event.6 When Furthermore, although the score is inappropriate to use an Apgar score a category I (normal) or category II widely used in outcome studies, its alone to diagnose asphyxia. inappropriate use has led to an (indeterminate) fetal heart rate erroneous definition of asphyxia. tracing is associated with Apgar APGAR SCORE AND RESUSCITATION Asphyxia is defined as the marked scores of 7 or higher at 5 minutes, impairment of gas exchange, which, if The 5-minute Apgar score, and a normal umbilical cord arterial blood prolonged, leads to progressive particularly a change in the score pH (61 SD), or both, it is not

Downloaded from www.aappublications.org/news by guest on September 25, 2021 820 FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS medications, resuscitation, and cardiorespiratory and neurologic conditions. If the Apgar score at 5 minutes is 7 or greater, it is unlikely that peripartum hypoxia–ischemia caused neonatal encephalopathy.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Apgar score does not predict individual neonatal mortality or neurologic outcome and should not be used for that purpose. 2. It is inappropriate to use the Apgar FIGURE 1 score alone to establish the di- Expanded Apgar score reporting form. Scores should be recorded in the appropriate place at agnosis of asphyxia. The term as- specific time intervals. The additional resuscitative measures (if appropriate) are recorded at the phyxia, which describes a process same time that the score is reported by using a checkmark in the appropriate box. The comment of varying severity and duration box is used to list other factors, including maternal medications and/or the response to re- rather than an end point, should suscitation between the recorded times of scoring. ETT, endotracheal tube; PPV/NCPAP, positive pressure ventilation/nasal continuous positive airway pressure. not be applied to birth events un- less specific evidence of markedly impaired intrapartum or immedi- OTHER APPLICATIONS consistent with an acute ate postnatal gas exchange can be – 4 hypoxic ischemic event. Monitoring of low Apgar scores from documented. a delivery service may be useful. 3. When a newborn infant has an Individual case reviews can identify PREDICTION OF OUTCOME Apgar score of 5 or less at 5 needs for focused educational minutes, umbilical arterial blood A 1-minute Apgar score of 0 to 3 does programs and improvement in gas samples from a clamped sec- not predict any individual infant’s systems of perinatal care. Analyzing tion of the umbilical cord should outcome. A 5-minute Apgar score of trends allows for the assessment of be obtained. Submitting the pla- 0 to 3 correlates with neonatal the effect of quality improvement centa for pathologic examination mortality in large populations11,12 interventions. may be valuable. but does not predict individual future 4. Perinatal health care professionals neurologic dysfunction. Population CONCLUSIONS should be consistent in assigning studies have uniformly reassured us an Apgar score during re- that most infants with low Apgar The Apgar score describes the suscitation; therefore, the Ameri- scores will not develop cerebral palsy. condition of the newborn infant can Academy of Pediatrics and the However, a low 5-minute Apgar score immediately after birth and, when American College of Obstetricians clearly confers an increased relative properly applied, is a tool for and Gynecologists encourage use risk of cerebral palsy, reported to be standardized assessment.18 It also of an expanded Apgar score as high as 20- to 100-fold over that of provides a mechanism to record fetal- reporting form that accounts for infants with a 5-minute Apgar score to-neonatal transition. Apgar scores concurrent resuscitative of 7 to 10.9,13–15 Although individual do not predict individual mortality or interventions. risk varies, the population risk of adverse neurologic outcome. poor neurologic outcomes also However, based on population AAP COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN, increases when the Apgar score is 3 studies, Apgar scores of less than 5 at 2014–2015 or less at 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 5 and 10 minutes clearly confer an Kristi L. Watterberg, MD, FAAP, Chairperson 16 20 minutes. When a newborn infant increased relative risk of cerebral Susan Aucott, MD, FAAP has an Apgar score of 5 or less at palsy, and the degree of abnormality William E. Benitz, MD, FAAP 5 minutes, umbilical arterial blood correlates with the risk of cerebral James J. Cummings, MD, FAAP gas samples from a clamped section palsy. Most infants with low Apgar Eric C. Eichenwald, MD, FAAP of the umbilical cord should be scores, however, will not develop Jay Goldsmith, MD, FAAP Brenda B. Poindexter, MD, FAAP 17 obtained, if possible. Submitting the cerebral palsy. The Apgar score is Karen Puopolo, MD, FAAP placenta for pathologic examination affected by many factors, including Dan L. Stewart, MD, FAAP may be valuable. gestational age, maternal Kasper S. Wang, MD, FAAP

Downloaded from www.aappublications.org/news by guest on September 25, 2021 PEDIATRICS Volume 136, number 4, October 2015 821 LIAISONS Uma Reddy, MD, MPH – National Institute of Child influence of gestational age. J Pediatr. Health and Human Development – Captain Wanda D. Barfield, MD, MPH, FAAP – Centers 1986;109(5):865 868 Kristi L. Watterberg, MD – American Academy of for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatrics 8. Hegyi T, Carbone T, Anwar M, et al. The James Goldberg, MD – American College of Cathy H. Whittlesey – Executive Board – Ex-Officio Apgar score and its components in the Obstetricians and Gynecologists Edward A. Yaghmour, MD – American Society of preterm infant. Pediatrics. 1998;101(1 pt Thierry Lacaze, MD – Canadian Pediatric Society Anesthesiologists 1):77–81 Erin L. Keels, APRN, MS, NNP-BC – National Association of Neonatal Nurses 9. Ehrenstein V. Association of Apgar Tonse N.K. Raju, MD, DCH, FAAP – National Institutes STAFF scores with death and neurologic of Health Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD disability. Clin Epidemiol. 2009;1:45–53 Mindy Saraco, MHA 10. Lopriore E, van Burk GF, Walther FJ, de STAFF Debra Hawks, MPH Beaufort AJ. Correct use of the Apgar Jim Couto, MA Margaret Villalonga Amanda Guiliano score for resuscitated and intubated newborn babies: questionnaire study. ACOG COMMITTEE ON OBSTETRIC PRACTICE, BMJ. 2004;329(7458):143–144 2014–2015 REFERENCES 11. Casey BM, McIntire DD, Leveno KJ. The Jeffrey L. Ecker, MD, Chairperson continuing value of the Apgar score for Joseph R. Wax, MD, Vice Chairperson 1. Apgar V. A proposal for a new method of Ann Elizabeth Bryant Borders, MD evaluation of the newborn infant. Curr the assessment of newborn infants. N – Yasser Yehia El-Sayed, MD Res Anest Anal. 1953;32(4):260–267 Engl J Med. 2001;344(7):467 471 R. Phillips Heine, MD 2. Apgar V, Holaday DA, James LS, Weisbrot 12. Li F, Wu T, Lei X, Zhang H, Mao M, Zhang J. Denise J. Jamieson, MD IM, Berrien C. Evaluation of the newborn The Apgar score and infant mortality. Maria Anne Mascola, MD PLoS One. 2013;8(7):e69072 Howard L. Minkoff, MD infant; second report. J Am Med Assoc. Alison M. Stuebe, MD 1958;168(15):1985–1988 13. Moster D, Lie RT, Irgens LM, Bjerkedal T, James E. Sumners, MD 3. American Academy of Pediatrics and Markestad T. The association of Apgar Methodius G. Tuuli, MD American Heart Association. Textbook of score with subsequent death and Kurt R. Wharton, MD Neonatal Resuscitation. 6th ed. Elk Grove cerebral palsy: a population-based study in term infants. J Pediatr. 2001;138(6): LIAISONS Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart 798–803 – ’ Debra Bingham, DrPh, RN Association of Womens Association; 2011 14. Nelson KB, Ellenberg JH. Apgar scores as Health Obstetric Neonatal Nurses predictors of chronic neurologic Sean C. Blackwell, MD – Society for Maternal–Fetal 4. American College of Obstetrics and Pediatrics – Medicine Gynecology, Task Force on Neonatal disability. . 1981;68(1):36 44 William M. Callaghan, MD – Centers for Disease Encephalopathy, American Academy of 15. Lie KK, Grøholt EK, Eskild A. Association of Control and Prevention Pediatrics. Neonatal Encephalopathy and cerebral palsy with Apgar score in low Julia Carey-Corrado, MD – US Food and Drug Neurologic Outcome. 2nd ed. and normal birthweight infants: Administration Washington, DC: American College of population based cohort study. BMJ. Beth Choby, MD – American Academy of Family Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2014 2010;341:c4990 Physicians Joshua A. Copel, MD – American Institute of 5. Jain L, Ferre C, Vidyasagar D, Nath S, 16. Freeman JM, Nelson KB. Intrapartum Ultrasound in Medicine Sheftel D. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation asphyxia and cerebral palsy. Pediatrics. Nathaniel DeNicola, MD, MS – American Academy of of apparently stillborn infants: survival 1988;82(2):240–249 Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health (ACOG and long-term outcome. J Pediatr. 1991; 17. Malin GL, Morris RK, Khan KS. Strength of liaison) 118(5):778–782 Tina Clark-Samazan Foster, MD – Committee on association between umbilical cord pH Patient Safety and Quality Improvement – Ex-Officio 6. Kasdorf E, Laptook A, Azzopardi D, Jacobs and perinatal and long term outcomes: William Adam Grobman, MD – Committee on Practice S, Perlman JM. Improving infant outcome systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulletins-Obstetrics – Ex-Officio with a 10 min Apgar of 0. Arch Dis Child BMJ. 2010;340:c1471 Rhonda Hearns-Stokes, MD – US Food and Drug Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2015;100(2):F102–F105 Administration 18. Papile LA. The Apgar score in the 21st Tekoa King, CNM, FACNM – American College of Nurse- 7. Catlin EA, Carpenter MW, Brann BS IV, century. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(7): Midwives et al. The Apgar score revisited: 519–520

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Pediatrics is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it has been published continuously since 1948. Pediatrics is owned, published, and trademarked by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 345 Park Avenue, Itasca, Illinois, 60143. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 1073-0397.

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