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Am J Perinatol 2023; 40(06): 619-623
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730350
Original Article

Neonatal Outcome of Babies Born to Women 40 Years and Older in a Jamaican Birth Cohort

Helen Trotman 
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica
,
Maureen Samms-Vaughan
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica
,
Charlene Coore-Desai
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica
,
Jody-Ann Reece
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica
,
Oluwayomi Olugbuyi
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica
› Author Affiliations Funding The Inter-American Development Bank (grant reference: ATN/JF-12312-JA and ATN/OC-14535-JA) and the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus provided core support for JA KIDS. Additional support was provided by the World Bank, UNICEF, the CHASE Fund, the National Health Fund, Parenting Partners Caribbean, the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston, and Michigan State University and its Partners. This publication is the work of the authors Helen Trotman, Maureen Samms Vaughan, Charlene Coore-Desai, Jody Reece and Oluwayomi Olugbuyi who will serve as guarantors for the contents of this paper.
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Abstract

Objective The study aimed to determine the outcome of babies born to women ≥40 years in a Jamaican birth cohort.

Study Design Maternal demographic data and neonatal data for women ≥40 years who delivered live singleton babies and their younger counterparts aged 20 30 years were extracted from the JA KIDS birth cohort dataset. Outcome measures were preterm birth, low birth weight, very low birth weight, extremely low birth weight, macrosomia, a low 5-minute Apgar score <7, admission to the neonatal unit, and neonatal death. Descriptive analyses were performed; statistical significance was taken at the level p <0.05.

Results A total of 5,424 women and their babies were entered into the study, 5,099 (94%) women were aged 20 to 30 years (mean age ± standard deviation [SD]: 24.5 ± 3.2 years) and 325 (6%) were aged ≥40 years (mean age ± SD: 41.5 ± 1.6 years). A greater percentage of preterm babies (18%) were born to women ≥40 years than to their younger counterparts (14%; p = 0.04). There was no difference in the proportion of low birth weight infants, very low birth weight infants, or extremely low birth weight infants born between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the proportion of babies who were macrosomic and in those who had a low 5-minute Apgar score <7. There were 866 (16%) neonatal admissions, 67/325 (21%) of these babies were born to women aged ≥40 years and 799/5,099 (16%) were born to their younger counterparts (p = 0.01). The commonest reason for admission was prematurity. While 60 babies died, there was no significant difference between both groups with 56 (1%) born to women 20 to 30 years and 4 (1%) born to women ≥40 years (p = 0.48).

Conclusion Adverse outcomes noted for babies born to women ≥40 years were prematurity and the need for neonatal admission. However, no excess mortality was recorded.

Key Points

  • Women 40 years and older are more likely to have a chronic illness such as hypertension and diabetes and to have an operative delivery.

  • Babies born to women 40 years and older are more likely to be late premature infants and require neonatal admission.

  • However, there is no increased risk of neonatal mortality.

Keywords

advanced maternal age - neonatal outcome - low and middle income countries


Publication History

Received: 26 February 2020

Accepted: 09 April 2021

Article published online:
27 May 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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