Interpretation

Apgar Score

Devised by Virginia Apgar in 1952^[1]
Used widely to quickly assess the health of newborns immediately after birth
Not useful to predict specific neurologic outcomes in term infants^[4]
No consistent data exists on the significance of the Apgar score in preterm infants^[4]

Score interpretation

Score	Interpretation
≥ 7	Normal
3–6	Moderate neurologic/cardiorespiratory depression
< 3	Severe neurologic/cardiorespiratory depression

Formula

Apgar Score = A + P + G + A + R

	Score of 0	Score of 1	Score of 2
Appearance	Blue or pale all over	Extremities blue; body pink	Extremities and body pink
Pulse	Absent	< 100	≥ 100
Grimace to nose cath	No reaction	Grimace	Sneeze, cough
Activity	None; limp	Some flexion	Flexed arms and legs that resist extension
Respiration	Absent	Weak, irregular, gasping	Strong cry

APGAR V: A proposal for a new method of evaluation of the newborn infant. Curr Res Anesth Analg 32:260, 1953 Jul-Aug [PMID:13083014]
Committee on Obstetric Practice, ACOG, American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, ACOG: ACOG Committee Opinion. Number 333, May 2006 (replaces No. 174, July 1996): The Apgar score. Obstet Gynecol 107:1209, 2006 [PMID:16648434]
Casey BM, McIntire DD, Leveno KJ: The continuing value of the Apgar score for the assessment of newborn infants. N Engl J Med 344:467, 2001 [PMID:11172187]
Finster M, Wood M: The Apgar score has survived the test of time. Anesthesiology 102:855, 2005 [PMID:15791116]