Pregnancy Outcome in Ederly Women Aged 35 Years or Older

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pregnancy complications and outcome beyond 20 weeks in women aged 35 or older with those aged 20-29.

STUDY DESIGN : A four years retrospective cohort study from January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1993 was conducted to compare the pregnancy complications and outcome in 3334 women aged 35 or older with 6668 women aged 20-29 who were delivered in the same day. The chi-square test was used to identify trends in in dividual variables and outcomes.

RESULTS : The study group had statistically significant difference in the incidence of diabetes, chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, multiple gestation and preterm birth when compared with the control. Older women had Cesarean deliveries twice as often as the younger. Additionally, there was a significantly higher risks of having a low birth weight infant among women who were 35 or older (relative risk 1.30, 95% CI, 1.20-1.38). Stillbirth, perinatal morbidity and mortality were also appreciably in creased.

CONCLUSIONS : Pregnancies in women of 35 or older have higher rates of complications, Cesarean deliveries and poor perinatal outcome than those aged 20-29. (Thai J Obstet Gynaecol 1994;6:121-127.)