the apgar score: a predictor of clinical adverse outcomes during the neonatal period

Introduction: the apgar score, assessing newborns’ health at birth, indicates adverse conditions and the need for medical attention. this study investigates its predictive value for neonatal outcomes.material & methods: this retrospective cohort study involved 207 neonates in ilam city hospitals (2015-2016). it compared two groups: 69 neonates with apgar scores <7 (exposed) and 138 with scores ≥7 (unexposed) at birth. neonates were followed through the neonatal period, and outcomes were compared. statistical analysis used spss statistics software.results: at the fifth minute, the exposed group had higher rates of resuscitation need (51% vs. 26.7%, p=0.01), re-admission (51% vs. 31.1%), and mortality (60% vs. 12.2%, p=0.03) compared to the unexposed group. relative risks for the exposed group were 3.8 (resuscitation), 6.1 (nicu admission), 2.94 (re-admission), and 2.5 (mortality) at the first minute, and 2.9, 2.7, 2.3, and 19.9, respectively, at the fifth minute.conclusion:  apgar scores <7 increase the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes including nicu admission, resuscitation, and higher mortality rates. the apgar score serves as a valuable predictor of adverse neonatal outcomes.