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Low Apgar scores and risk of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Jiong Li1, Jørn Olsen, Mogens Vestergaard

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. jl@soci.au.dk

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Low Apgar scores at birth are linked to a higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This association suggests potential shared causes or that low Apgar scores may indicate pathways leading to ADHD.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Child Psychology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Apgar scores assess a newborn's physical condition.
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • The relationship between Apgar scores and ADHD risk requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if low Apgar scores at 5 minutes post-birth correlate with an increased risk of developing ADHD.
  • To analyze the dose-response relationship between Apgar scores and ADHD incidence.

Main Methods:

  • Nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark (1988-2001).
  • Inclusion of 980,902 singletons.
  • Follow-up from age 3 until ADHD diagnosis, medication, migration, death, or end of 2006.
  • Cox regression models used to assess the association between Apgar scores and ADHD.

Main Results:

  • An inverse association was observed between Apgar scores and ADHD risk.
  • Children with Apgar scores of 1-4 had a 75% higher risk of ADHD compared to those with scores of 9-10.
  • Children with Apgar scores of 5-6 had a 63% higher risk of ADHD.

Conclusions:

  • Low Apgar scores at 5 minutes are significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood ADHD.
  • The findings suggest potential shared underlying causes for low Apgar scores and ADHD.
  • Low Apgar scores may represent a marker for causal pathways contributing to ADHD development.
Abstract

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