Apgar Score and Umbilical Cord pH as Prognostic Predictors in Very Low Birth Weight Premature Neonates

Objective To estimate the reliability of the Apgar score (AS) and umbilical cord pH (UCP) as prognostic tools among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Study Design Retrospective study based on data of 1237 VLBW neonates born between 1997 and 2013 at one tertiary medical center. For each newborn, a complication score (CS) was calculated based on common complications of prematurity. Results The AS at 1 and 5 minutes correlated well with CS (correlation coefficients -0.47 and -0.52, respectively). No significant correlation was found between UCP and CS (correlation coefficient -0.08). Multi regression analysis revealed that the variables with the greatest prognostic contribution were birth weight, gestational age and prenatal steroid administration (beta values 0.277, 0.251 and 0.087, respectively). Conclusion The AS at 1 and 5 minutes, but not UCP, combined with gestational age, birth weight, and prenatal steroids, can be significant parameters for predicting prognosis among VLBW neonates.