Seasonal Variations in Apgar Scores in Newborns in Barnaul

Introduction. Environmental factors and their seasonal fluctuations have been shown to influence human health. Birth is one of the most critical periods of human development. Newborns are very sensitive to environmental factors. Our aim was to study associations between selected environmental factors and the first- and the fifth minute Apgar scores in Barnaul, Altay region. Method. Data on Apgar scores for all infants born in Maternity home N 2 in Barnaul in 1998 and 2014 were analyzed. Barometric pressure, the pressure gradient, Wolf number, 10.7 cm Solar flux, geomagnetic AP-index were used as independent variables. Associations were assessed using linear regression models. Regression coefficients, coefficient of determination (R2) and significance levels (P) were calculated. Results. We found positive associations between Apgar scores and AP geomagnetic index and indicators of solar activity. At the same time no associations between barometric pressure and newborns' Apgar scores were observed. Conclusions. Our findings are congruent with the evidence on the associations between Solar activity and human health indices. However, the effects were rather weak suggesting more important role of the endogenic factors influencing late stages of pregnancy

Apgar score · Biology · Birth weight · Linear regression · Pregnancy · Regression analysis · Statistics · Birth, Development, and Health · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Demography · Human Health and Disease · Mathematics · Medicine