Long-term outcome in term breech infants with low Apgar score--a population-based follow-up.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between low Apgar score in breech infants and handicap in childhood. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. A questionnaire to mothers of 323 non-malformed, singleton infants delivered in breech presentation at term, 105 cases with Apgar score below 7 at 5 min and 218 controls. RESULTS: Four cases (4.6%) and one control (0.5%) had cerebral palsy. In infants without cerebral palsy, speech/language problems were more frequent than controls (10.6 versus 3.2%) (P=0.02). There were no differences in rates of deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP), epilepsy, cognitive developmental delay or learning disabilities. Absence of any handicap or disability was reported in 65 cases (75%) compared to 172 controls (92%) (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.9-7.9). CONCLUSION: Even though low Apgar score indicates an increased risk of neurological sequelae, most (75%) breech infants with low Apgar score are without a handicap/disability at follow-up.