Results:
The proportion of infants with low 5-minute Apgar score <7 and
<4 increased significantly between 2010 and 2019 (1.04-1.42%
(p<0.001), 0.17-0.19% (p=0.009), respectively). While
neonatal mortality remained unchanged, NICU admissions and low umbilical
artery pH’s increased significantly. Many perinatal characteristics
showed a significant association with low Apgar scores. The highest
risks were found for nulliparity, epidural analgesia, emergency
caesarean section, instrumental vaginal delivery, prolonged second stage
of labour, male sex and delivery in secondary care. The obstetric
interventions induction of labour, epidural analgesia and planned
caesarean section showed an increasing trend. Instrumental vaginal
delivery and emergency caesarean section were performed less frequently
over time, however within these obstetric intervention subgroups the
highest increase in low Apgar scores was observed.