ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcome and delivery complications
in women 40 years or older (cases) to that of women 20 to 30 years old (controls).
Over a 5-year period, 319 cases had a singleton delivery in our institution. These
women were compared with 326 controls. Parity was significantly higher in cases compared
with controls (3.2 vs. 1.8). Advanced maternal age, compared with younger age, was
associated with significantly higher rates of preterm delivery (16.0 vs. 8.0%), cesarean
delivery (CS) (31.3 vs. 13.5%), and the occurrence of one or more antepartum complications
(29.5 vs. 16.6%). When the two groups were subdivided according to parity, rates of
preterm delivery, CS, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, and
labor induction were each significantly higher among older multiparas compared with
control multiparas. However, only preterm delivery, CS rates, and uterine fibroids
were found to be significantly higher in older nulliparous compared with young nulliparous
women. We conclude that multiparous women at least 40 years old have a higher antepartum
complication rate including intrauterine fetal death compared with younger women.
KEYWORD
Advanced maternal age - pregnancy outcome
