APGAR scoring evaluates which five areas?

• A. Heart rate, Respiratory effort, Color, Reflex irritability, Muscle tone
• B. Heart rate, Temperature, Color, Reflex irritability, Muscle tone
• C. Blood pressure, Respiratory effort, Color, Reflex irritability, Muscle tone
• D. Heart rate, Respiratory effort, Color, Respiratory rate, Muscle tone

Answer: (A)

APGAR scoring focuses on how well a newborn has adapted to life outside the womb by quickly assessing five observable areas at the moment after birth: heart rate, respiratory effort, color, reflex irritability, and muscle tone. Each area gets a score of 0, 1, or 2, and the total (0–10) helps gauge the newborn’s immediate need for intervention and ongoing monitoring. Specifically, heart rate is 0 if absent, 1 if below 100 bpm, and 2 if above 100 bpm. Respiratory effort is 0 for no breathing, 1 for slow or irregular breathing, and 2 for good, crying respiration. Color is 0 for blue/pale all over, 1 for pink body with blue extremities, and 2 for completely pink. Reflex irritability is 0 for no response, 1 for a grimace or feeble cry, and 2 for sneeze, cough, or pulls away. Muscle tone is 0 for limp, 1 for some flexion, and 2 for active motion. The total score helps determine immediate needs but does not predict long-term outcomes. It’s important to note that temperature or blood pressure are not part of the APGAR evaluation, nor is respiratory rate treated as its own category.