title: Apgar Scores Are Associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Severity.
abstract: Adverse events during pregnancy and delivery have been linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have investigated Apgar scores, which assess the physical condition of newborns, in relation to the risk of developing ADHD. We propose to go one step further and examine if Apgar scores are associated with ADHD symptom severity in children already diagnosed with ADHD.
  
  
  
  ADHD symptoms severity, while off medication, was compared in 2 groups of children with ADHD: those with low (≤6, n = 52) and those with higher (≥7, n = 400) Apgar scores sequentially recruited from the ADHD clinic.
  
  
  
  Children with low Apgar at 1 minute after birth had more severe symptoms as assessed by the externalizing scale of the Child Behaviour Checklist, the Conners' Global Index for Parents, and the DSM-IV hyperactivity symptoms count (P = 0.02, <0.01, <0.01, respectively).
  
  
  
  Low 1-minute Apgar scores are associated with a significant increase in ADHD symptom severity. These findings underline the importance of appropriate pregnancy and perinatal care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec Natalie.Grizenko@douglas.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grizenko
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Maria Loren
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.affiliation: Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Côté-Corriveau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jolicoeur
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Ridha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joober
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Apgar scores; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; delivery complications; symptom severity