Apgar Score

Rapid assessment of newborn condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. Guides need for resuscitation.

Indication

Rapid assessment of newborn condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. Guides need for resuscitation.

id: appearance; label: Appearance (skin color); type: options; options: value: 0; label: Blue or pale all over; value: 1; label: Blue extremities, body pink (acrocyanosis); value: 2; label: Pink all over
id: pulse; label: Pulse (heart rate); type: options; options: value: 0; label: Absent; value: 1; label: <100 bpm; value: 2; label: ≥100 bpm
id: grimace; label: Grimace (reflex irritability); type: options; options: value: 0; label: No response; value: 1; label: Grimace; value: 2; label: Cry, cough, or sneeze
id: tone; label: Activity (muscle tone); type: options; options: value: 0; label: Limp; value: 1; label: Some flexion; value: 2; label: Active motion
id: respiration; label: Respiration; type: options; options: value: 0; label: Absent; value: 1; label: Weak or irregular; value: 2; label: Strong cry

function(score) { if (score >= 7) return { risk: score + '/10', tier: 'Normal', action: 'Routine newborn care.', color: 'green' }; if (score >= 4) return { risk: score + '/10', tier: 'Moderate Concern', action: 'Stimulation, supplemental oxygen, close monitoring. Reassess in 5 minutes.', color: 'yellow' }; return { risk: score + '/10', tier: 'Severe Depression', action: 'Immediate resuscitation per NRP protocol.', color: 'red' }; }

Apgar does not predict neurological outcome — it is a snapshot of transition at birth
Acrocyanosis (blue hands and feet) is normal in the first minutes and scores 1 for appearance
Low 5-minute Apgar increases neonatal morbidity risk, but most infants with low scores do well
Premature infants have lower scores due to physiological immaturity

Apgar V. Curr Res Anesth Analg 1953; AAP/ACOG Guidelines for Perinatal Care. Last reviewed: 2025-01-01