Apgar score

Background

• Performed at 1 and 5 minutes of life
• Score range = 0 - 10
• Designed to assess newborn's condition at birth
  • Real-time use only - not a predictive score

Criteria

Apgar score

	Score of 0	Score of 1	Score of 2
Appearance	blue or pale all over (central cyanosis)	peripheral cyanosis (acrocyanosis) body pink	no cyanosis body and extremities pink
Pulse	absent	<100 beats per minute	≥100 beats per minute
Grimace	no response to stimulation	grimace on suction or aggressive stimulation	cry on stimulation
Activity	none	some flexion	flexed arms and legs that resist extension
Respiration	absent	weak, irregular, gasping	strong, lusty cry

Score at 1 minute and 5 minutes post delivery.

Calculators

APGAR Score

APGAR Score

Criteria	0	1	2
Appearance (Color)	1 Blue/pale all over	Blue extremities, pink body	Pink all over
Pulse (Heart Rate)	1 Absent	<100 bpm	≥100 bpm
Grimace (Reflex Irritability)	1 No response	Grimace/weak cry	Cry or pull away
Activity (Muscle Tone)	1 Limp	Some flexion	Active motion
Respiration	1 Absent	Slow/irregular	Good cry
APGAR Score	/ 10

Interpretation
0–3	Critically low — Immediate resuscitation needed.
4–6	Moderately low — May require some resuscitative measures.
7–10	Reassuring — Routine neonatal care.

References
Apgar V. A proposal for a new method of evaluation of the newborn infant. Curr Res Anesth Analg. 1953;32(4):260-267. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn. The Apgar Score. Pediatrics. 2015;136(4):819-822. PMID 26416932.

See Also

• Emergent delivery
• Newborn resuscitation