Effect of maternal age on pregnancy outcome and cesarean delivery rate

The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the maternal and prenatal outcomes between 35 years and older pregnancies and younger pregnancies, and the effects of the age of pregnancy, mother and newborn.

Pregnant women who gave birth in Vakif Gureba Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006 were retrospectively screened. Pregnant women aged 35 years and over were included in this study and the pregnant women between age range of 30 - 34 years were included in the control group.

Pregnancy rate was found as 7.1% in 35 years and older women in all the deliveries, cesarean delivery rate was found as 46.1% in this group at 1 year period. However, cesarean delivery rate was 40.9% in the control group. Cesarean delivery rate was found as 31.6% in all the deliveries. The most common cause of cesarean section indication was fetal distress in advanced maternal age (AMA) (11.7%), whereas previous cesarean section was found as the most common cause in the control group (15.1%).

No significant difference was found between AMA group and normal pregnancies in terms of preterm labor, caesarian section, morbidity, mortality and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus.