# Developmental Outcomes at 6 Months in Neonates with First-minute Apgar Score Below 7 and Gestational Age More Than 35 Weeks: A Single-center Study: Developmental Outcomes in Neonates with Low First-minute Apgar

## TL;DR

This study found that a low first-minute Apgar score in full-term infants does not predict poor developmental outcomes at six months.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that low first-minute Apgar scores in term neonates are not linked to developmental delays at six months.

## Key findings

- Most infants with low first-minute Apgar scores had normal developmental outcomes at six months.
- Only a small number of infants showed high-risk or abnormal scores in specific developmental domains.
- No significant relationship was found between low first-minute Apgar scores and adverse developmental outcomes.

## Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship
between the one-minute Apgar score and developmental outcomes at six months
of age.

Materials and Methods: This cohort study involved neonates with gestational
age of more than 35 weeks and a first-minute Apgar score of less than 7,
without major anomalies requiring admission during September 2018-2021.
Clinical data and hospital course details were recorded. At 6 months old,
participants were contacted, and parental questionnaires regarding age and
stages questionnaire (ASQ) were completed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21,
using mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage. Dunn test and the
Kruskal-Wallis test were also employed.

Results: Out of 26,928 neonates born, 865 had an Apgar score of less than 7
and survived the first day, with 208 being more than 35 weeks gestational
age and needing admission. Ultimately, 196 neonates were enrolled. The mean
gestational age was 38.2± 1.75 and the mean 1st-minute Apgar score was 3.36
± 1.84. A significant relationship was observed between the 5th-minute Apgar
score and cord blood acidosis (P0.001) and the 10th-minute Apgar score with
the need for oxygen (P=0.02(. Most infants had normal ASQ evaluations, while
one (0.5%) was in high-risk zone for each domain of fine motor,
personal-social, and communication skills. Additionally, one (0.05%) was in
the abnormal range for gross motor function, and another one (0.05%) was in
the abnormal range for fine motor function.

Conclusion: Our study did not identify a relationship between a low
first-minute Apgar score and adverse developmental outcomes at 6 months of
age.