Adolescent Perinatal Outcomes in South West Sydney, Australia

To compare perinatal outcomes, blood pressures throughout pregnancy, rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and immediate obstetric outcomes in adolescents younger than 20 years at delivery and those in the 20- to 34-year age group.

Questionnaires were administered to pregnant women at Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals within South West Sydney, Australia, as part of a broader study of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy between February 1, 2009, and February 28, 2013. Data collected included demographic data, blood pressure readings, pregnancy complications, delivery type, and neonatal outcomes. Adolescents were compared with older women using Student t tests and χ2 statistics.

A total of 103 adolescents were compared with 2291 women aged 20 to 34 years. Adolescents were more likely to be primiparous, had longer average gestations, and had lower pre-pregnancy body mass index. Adolescents had lower rates of cesarean section delivery and gestational diabetes mellitus. There was no significant difference in smoking rates, perinatal mortality rate, small for gestational age, intrauterine growth restriction, Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes, admission to special care nursery, or hypertensive disorder of pregnancy rates. Adolescents had lower booking systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and their highest antenatal systolic blood pressures were lower.

Adolescents have birth outcomes to similar to those of their older counterparts. Adolescents had lower booking blood pressures. This may have implications for the screening and diagnosis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in adolescents.