Associations Between Provider-Assigned Apgar Score and Neonatal Race

Abstract

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(2):229.e1–229.e9) Apgar scores are typically used by pediatricians and nurses to determine whether a newborn needs medical intervention. Consisting of 5 categories in which the score ranges from 0 to 2, the composite score can range from 0 to 10; low scores are predictive of poor neurologic outcomes, but the assignment of the score has an inherent amount of subjectivity as well as poor specificity. One area of subjectivity in particular concerns race, as well-perfused infants of different races could subjectively be viewed differently if expectations are inaccurate. To date, no studies have examined the relationship between Apgar score and race, nor assessed the impact this may have on neonatal care. This study aimed to assess the relationship between race and Apgar scores. The authors hypothesized that Apgar scores for Black newborns would be significantly lower than other races, but that cord gases would not significantly differ.