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Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) Mar 2021
Topics: Apgar Score; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Resuscitation
PubMed: 33135250
DOI: 10.1111/apa.15629 -
JAMA Psychiatry Dec 2019Antidepressant use is increasing worldwide. Yet, contrasting evidence on the safety of antidepressants is available from meta-analyses, and the credibility of these...
IMPORTANCE
Antidepressant use is increasing worldwide. Yet, contrasting evidence on the safety of antidepressants is available from meta-analyses, and the credibility of these findings has not been quantified.
OBJECTIVE
To grade the evidence from published meta-analyses of observational studies that assessed the association between antidepressant use or exposure and adverse health outcomes.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO were searched from database inception to April 5, 2019.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
Only meta-analyses of observational studies with a cohort or case-control study design were eligible. Two independent reviewers recorded the data and assessed the methodological quality of the included meta-analyses. Evidence of association was ranked according to established criteria as follows: convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant.
RESULTS
Forty-five meta-analyses (17.9%) from 4471 studies identified and 252 full-text articles scrutinized were selected that described 120 associations, including data from 1012 individual effect size estimates. Seventy-four (61.7%) of the 120 associations were nominally statistically significant at P ≤ .05 using random-effects models. Fifty-two associations (43.4%) had large heterogeneity (I2 > 50%), whereas small-study effects were found for 17 associations (14.2%) and excess significance bias was found for 9 associations (7.5%). Convincing evidence emerged from both main and sensitivity analyses for the association between antidepressant use and risk of suicide attempt or completion among children and adolescents, autism spectrum disorders with antidepressant exposure before and during pregnancy, preterm birth, and low Apgar scores. None of these associations remained supported by convincing evidence after sensitivity analysis, which adjusted for confounding by indication.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This study's findings suggest that most putative adverse health outcomes associated with antidepressant use may not be supported by convincing evidence, and confounding by indication may alter the few associations with convincing evidence. Antidepressant use appears to be safe for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, but more studies matching for underlying disease are needed to clarify the degree of confounding by indication and other biases. No absolute contraindication to antidepressants emerged from this umbrella review.
Topics: Adolescent; Antidepressive Agents; Apgar Score; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child; Female; Humans; Mental Disorders; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Observational Studies as Topic; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Suicide, Attempted; Suicide, Completed
PubMed: 31577342
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2859 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal... Jul 2022To assess associations between 5 min Apgar score and mortality and severe neurological injury (SNI) and to report test characteristics in preterm neonates.
OBJECTIVES
To assess associations between 5 min Apgar score and mortality and severe neurological injury (SNI) and to report test characteristics in preterm neonates.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS
Retrospective cohort study of neonates 24 to 28 weeks' gestation born between 2007 and 2016 and admitted to neonatal units in 11 high-income countries.
EXPOSURE
5 min Apgar score.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
In-hospital mortality and SNI defined as grade 3 or 4 periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia. Outcome rates were calculated for each Apgar score and compared after adjustment. The diagnostic characteristics and ORs for each value from 0 versus 1-10 to 0-9 versus 10, with 1-point increments were calculated.
RESULTS
Among 92 412 included neonates, as 5 min Apgar score increased from 0 to 10, mortality decreased from 60% to 8%. However, no clear increasing or decreasing pattern was identified for SNI. There was an increase in sensitivity and decrease in specificity for both mortality and SNI associated with increasing scores. The Apgar score alone had an area under the curve of 0.64 for predicting mortality, which increased to 0.73 with the addition of gestational age.
CONCLUSIONS
In neonates of 24-28 weeks' gestation admitted to neonatal units, higher 5 min Apgar score was associated with lower mortality in a graded manner, while the association with SNI remained relatively constant at all scores. Among survivors, low Apgar scores did not predict SNI.
Topics: Apgar Score; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Leukomalacia, Periventricular; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34782368
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322230 -
JAMA Network Open Sep 2023The Apgar score is used worldwide as an assessment tool to estimate the vitality of newborns in their first minutes of life. Its applicability to estimate...
IMPORTANCE
The Apgar score is used worldwide as an assessment tool to estimate the vitality of newborns in their first minutes of life. Its applicability to estimate neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born extremely preterm (EPT; <28 weeks' gestation) is not well established.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between the Apgar score and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born EPT.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study was conducted using data from the Effective Perinatal Intensive Care in Europe-Screening to Improve Health in Very Preterm Infants in Europe (EPICE-SHIPS) study, a population-based cohort in 19 regions of 11 European countries in 2011 to 2012. Clinical assessments of cognition and motor function at age 5 years were performed in infants born EPT and analyzed in January to July 2023.
EXPOSURES
Apgar score at 5 minutes of life categorized into 4 groups (0-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-10 points).
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Cognitive and motor outcomes were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence test of IQ derived from locally normed versions by country and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition. Parents additionally provided information on communication and problem-solving skills using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3). All outcomes were measured as continuous variables.
RESULTS
From the total cohort of 4395 infants born EPT, 2522 infants were live born, 1654 infants survived to age 5 years, and 996 infants (478 females [48.0%]) followed up had at least 1 of 3 outcome measures. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, perinatal factors, and severe neonatal morbidities, there was no association of Apgar score with IQ, even for scores of 3 or less (β = -3.3; 95% CI, -10.5 to 3.8) compared with the score 9 to 10 category. Similarly, no association was found for ASQ-3 (β = -2.1; 95% CI, -24.6 to 20.4). Congruent results for Apgar scores of 3 or less were obtained for motor function scores for all children (β = -4.0; 95% CI, -20.1 to 12.1) and excluding children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (β = 0.8, 95% CI -11.7 to 13.3).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This study found that low Apgar scores were not associated with longer-term outcomes in infants born EPT. This finding may be associated with high interobserver variability in Apgar scoring, reduced vitality signs and poorer responses to resuscitation after birth among infants born EPT, and the association of more deleterious exposures in the neonatal intensive care unit or of socioeconomic factors with greater changes in outcomes during the first 5 years of life.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Child; Female; Pregnancy; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Apgar Score; Cohort Studies; Infant, Extremely Premature; Cerebral Palsy; Cognition
PubMed: 37672271
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.32413 -
Advances in Neonatal Care : Official... Feb 2022The Apgar score is the most common score used to quantify neonatal status after birth. It is routinely used in clinical practice and research. However, since its...
BACKGROUND
The Apgar score is the most common score used to quantify neonatal status after birth. It is routinely used in clinical practice and research. However, since its introduction there have been significant changes in peripartum and neonatal management, our understanding of neonatal physiology, and changes in data analysis capabilities.
PURPOSE
To assess the Apgar score's reliability and validity in the context of today's clinical and research environments.
METHOD
PubMed was searched using the term "Apgar." Just over 22,000 titles were identified. Full-text articles were obtained if they addressed the Apgar score's use, reliability, and validity, or if the score was a primary outcome measure. This was followed by a hand search using the same criteria. The 505 identified articles build the basis for this discussion of the Apgar score's reliability and validity.
FINDINGS
Multiple positive and negative aspects of the Apgar score's reliability and validity were identified. Some facets needed to evaluate reliability and validity do not seem to have been addressed in the literature. Overall, the identified concerns can introduce bias into outcomes obtained via the use of the Apgar score in both clinical practice and research.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
The Apgar score is no longer used to determine neonatal management in the delivery room.
IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH
The use of the Apgar score in research may introduce bias into outcomes. As discussed in the Video Abstract, researchers need to address and improve the score's weaknesses or consider developing a new tool better suited to today's research needs.
VIDEO ABSTRACT AVAILABLE AT
https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx?autoPlay=false&videoId=45.
Topics: Apgar Score; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 33797428
DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000859 -
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) Oct 2022To examine the association between Apgar score at 5 min and childhood developmental and educational outcome.
AIM
To examine the association between Apgar score at 5 min and childhood developmental and educational outcome.
METHODS
A population-based data linkage study of births ≥37 weeks' gestation linked to developmental outcomes at preparatory school and educational outcomes at school grades 3, 5 and 7 in Victoria, Australia. Multivariable logistic regressions and generalised estimating equations were used.
RESULTS
There were 167,126 singleton infants with developmental results and 392,933 singleton infants with at least one educational result. There was an inverse relationship between Apgar score at 5 min and poor developmental and educational outcomes, with the worst outcomes among Apgar scores of 0-3. Apgar scores of 7, 8 and 9 were all associated with poorer developmental outcomes (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12-1.54; aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05-1.29; aOR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13 respectively), while Apgar scores of 7 and 8 were associated with poorer educational outcomes at grades 3, 5, and 7. With progression through grades 3, 5, and 7, the extent of the difference in educational outcomes diminished (e.g. for Apgar scores of 0-3: aOR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.85-6.00 in grade 3 and aOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 0.75-2.96 in grade 7).
CONCLUSION
Apgar scores below 10 at 5 min are associated with poorer developmental and educational outcomes in school.
Topics: Apgar Score; Child; Educational Status; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Schools; Victoria
PubMed: 35665536
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16443 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2022Among low-risk pregnancies, we ascertained the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes of newborn infants.
OBJECTIVE
Among low-risk pregnancies, we ascertained the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes of newborn infants.
METHOD
We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the U.S. vital statistics datasets (2011-2018), which included live births from low-risk women with non-anomalous singleton gestations who delivered at 37-41 weeks. When a newborn infant had an abnormal 5-minute Apgar score (0-5), a 10-minute Apgar score was documented in the birth certificate. Apgar score at 10 min was categorized as low (0-3), moderate (4-6), and normal (7-10). The primary outcome was composite neonatal adverse outcome. The secondary outcomes were individual neonatal adverse outcomes and infant mortality. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes (using adjusted relative risk [aRR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI]).
RESULTS
Of 31.5 million live births delivered (2011-2018), 111,163 (0.4%) met inclusion criteria; of them, 74.2%, 20.7%, and 5.1% had normal, moderate, and low 10-minute Apgar scores, respectively. The overall composite neonatal adverse outcome was 100.6 per 1,000 live births and the risk was significantly higher among those with a moderate (aRR 3.19; 95% CI 3.06-3.31) or low 10-minute Apgar score (aRR 6.62; 95% CI 6.34-6.91) than with a normal 10-minute Apgar score. Infant mortality also showed a similar pattern. Newborn infants with improved Apgar scores from 5 to 10 min were associated with lower risks of the composite neonatal adverse outcome, as well as infant mortality, than those with scores that remained stable.
CONCLUSION
Among low-risk pregnancies, newborn infants with a lower 10-minute Apgar score were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Apgar Score; Retrospective Studies; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Live Birth
PubMed: 34167421
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1943659 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Feb 2023For decades, the Apgar scoring system has been used to evaluate neonatal status and determine need for resuscitation or escalation in care, such as admission to a...
BACKGROUND
For decades, the Apgar scoring system has been used to evaluate neonatal status and determine need for resuscitation or escalation in care, such as admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. However, the variation and accuracy of provider-assigned Apgar scores across neonatal racial groups have yet to be evaluated.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate how provider-assigned Apgar scores vary by neonatal race independently of clinical factors and umbilical cord gas values.
STUDY DESIGN
We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an urban academic medical center. All live births at ≥23 weeks and 0 days of gestation from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 with complete data available were included. Data were queried from the electronic medical record and included race, ethnicity, gestational age of neonate, umbilical cord gas values (umbilical artery pH and base deficit), admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and presence of maternal-fetal complications. Primary outcome measures were neonates' Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes. Color Apgar score and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit served as secondary outcome measures. We performed 3 partially proportional ordinal regression models controlling for an increasing number of covariates, with Model 1, the baseline model, adjusted for gestational age, Model 2 additionally adjusted for umbilical cord gases, and Model 3 additionally adjusted for maternal medical conditions and pregnancy complications.
RESULTS
A total of 977 neonates met selection criteria; 553 (56.6%) were Black. Providers assigned Black neonates significantly lower Apgar scores at 1 minute (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.80) and 5 minutes (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.87), when controlling for umbilical artery gases, gestational age, and maternal-fetal complications. This difference seemed related to significantly lower assigned color Apgar scores at 1 minute when controlling for all the above factors (odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.68). Providers admitted full-term Black neonates to the neonatal intensive care unit at higher rates than non-Black neonates when controlling for all factors (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.77). Black neonates did not have more abnormal cord gas values (mean umbilical artery pH of 7.259 for Black vs 7.256 for non-Black neonates), which would have supported their admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
CONCLUSION
Providers applied inaccurate Apgar scores to Black neonates given that the umbilical cord gases were not in agreement with lower Apgar scores. These inaccuracies may be a factor in unnecessary admissions to neonatal intensive care units, and suggest that colorism and racial biases exist among healthcare providers.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Apgar Score; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Resuscitation; Fetal Blood
PubMed: 35932875
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.07.055 -
European Review For Medical and... Aug 2022Coagulation parameters are used to diagnose hematological diseases. The correlation between the coagulation parameters and Apgar score at 5 min is yet to be elucidated....
OBJECTIVE
Coagulation parameters are used to diagnose hematological diseases. The correlation between the coagulation parameters and Apgar score at 5 min is yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed at describing the neonatal coagulation parameters in preterm infants with a low Apgar score at 5 min.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this case-control study, 32 serious preterm infants were compared with 20 preterm infants, according to the Apgar score at 5 min. The prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fbg), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), calculated international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer (D2), fructose diphosphate sodium (FDP), and procalcitonin (PCT) values were recorded. The linear correlation between coagulation parameters and Apgar score at 5 min was analyzed by linear regression. The two groups were compared using GraphPad Prism 8 (LaJolla, CA, USA).
RESULTS
In the study, the mean coagulation parameters were significantly higher in the serious preterm infants with low the Apgar score at 5 min compared to the preterm infants with normal Agar scores at 5 min (p<0.05). The correlation between coagulation parameters and Apgar score at 5 min was recorded (PT: R=0.3984; APTT: R=0.3165; INR: R=0.4139).
CONCLUSIONS
The coagulation parameters were significantly higher in serious preterm infants with a low Apgar score at 5 min. Also, the coagulation parameters and Apgar score at 5 min are associated with severity in preterm infants.
Topics: Apgar Score; Blood Coagulation; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Partial Thromboplastin Time
PubMed: 35993644
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202208_29417 -
Journal of Perinatal Medicine May 2023To review how the Apgar score is used in published clinical research as well as who uses it, and how this may have changed between 1989-90 and 2018-19.
OBJECTIVES
To review how the Apgar score is used in published clinical research as well as who uses it, and how this may have changed between 1989-90 and 2018-19.
METHODS
Pubmed search for English publications using MeSH Terms "apgar score" OR "apgar" AND "score" AND "humans" for epochs 1989-90 & 2018-19. The location and specialty of first author, primary purpose and how the Apgar score was used was recorded.
RESULTS
There was a 61% increase in number of publications in 2018-19 compared to 1989-90, from all regions except North America. The most common purpose for using the Apgar was to assess newborn status after pregnancy/delivery interventions. There were 50 different definitions of a significant score. Definition of significance was influenced by specialty in 2018-19 and by study purpose in both epochs.
CONCLUSIONS
Most studies using the Apgar score are focused on the mother. There is no consistent definition of a significant score. Development of any future newborn assessment tools should account for the multiple purposes for which the Apgar score is used.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Apgar Score
PubMed: 36410713
DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0340