Risk factors of low APGAR score in Japanese full-term deliveries: a case-control study

To elucidate maternal characteristics and pregnancy complications associated with low APGAR score, a case-control study of low APGAR score was conducted under matching both gestational age and route of delivery, in full-term deliveries at a Japanese hospital with 102 cases and 204 controls. Previous induced abortion and occurrence of preeclampsia were more frequently observed in the low APGAR score cases. In the multiple conditional logistic regression analysis, each of these factors more than doubled the risk of low APGAR score. Even if only those without perinatal troubles were included in the analysis, previous induced abortion was recognized as an independent risk factor of low APGAR score (odds ratio=2.68, 95% confidence interval:1.01-7.04). Despite of the potential limitations of this study, previous induced abortion might be a useful predictor of adverse state of newborn infant.