La edad de la mujer como factor de riesgo de mortalidad materna, fetal, neonatal e infantil / Women age as a risk factor for maternal, fetal, neonatal and infant mortality

Background: Adolescent pregnancy and advanced maternal age are associated with increased risk for maternal, perinatal and infant death. However, the maternal age with the lowest reproductive risk has not been established. Aim: To determine the range of maternal age with the lowest reproductive risk. Material and Methods: A population-based study (2005-2010) was performed analyzing raw data from vital statistics yearbooks of the National Institute of Statistics of Chile. The association of maternal, fetal, neonatal and infant mortality with maternal age was analyzed. The latter was stratified in quinquenniums, between ages 10 and 54 years. Maternal, fetal, neonatal and infant mortality rates were calculated for each quinquennium. The lowest rate was selected as a control group for risk analysis, which was estimated according to Odds Ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Women of 20-29, 25-34 and under 30 years, had the lowest rate of fetal, neonatal/infant and maternal death, respectively. Women aged 45-49 years had the higher rate of maternal, fetal, neonatal and infant mortality. The risk of fetal, neonatal and infant mortality doubled from 40-44 years onwards, and maternal mortality from the age of 30-34 years. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the maternal age range with the lesser general reproductive risk is between 20-29 years. This finding should be considered in future studies of reproductive risk and for an appropriate counseling about conception.

La suplementación materna con ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA) carece de beneficio clínicamente significativo / Evaluation of maternal and fetal benefits of prenatal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Objetivo: Evaluar los beneficios maternos y fetales de la suplementación prenatal con ácido docosahexae-noico (DHA). Método: Revisión sistemática de investigaciones clínicas controladas aleatorizadas. Resultados: La suplementación prenatal con DHA incrementó los niveles de DHA en sangre materna, en la leche materna o células neonatales. La suplementación con DHA no redujo los síntomas depresivos maternos ni mejoró el desempeño neurológico y visual de los niños. Aunque se apreció un menor riesgo de retraso cognitivo entre los hijos de mujeres suplementadas con DHA (RR 0,4; IC 95 por ciento 0,22-0,78) y un mejor desempeño en el procesamiento mental a los 4 años, el seguimiento a 7 años mostró ausencia de diferencias significativas en el nivel intelectual. El análisis secundario de dos estudios mostró que la suplementación con DHA redujo el riesgo de parto prematuro < 34 semanas (RR 0,49; IC95 por ciento 0,25-0,94; p=0,03), ingreso a UCI neonatal (RR 0,57; IC95 por ciento 0,34-0,97; p=0,04), peso < 2500 g (RR 0,65; IC95 por ciento 0,44-0,96; p=0,03) y restricción de crecimiento intrauterino en pacientes primigestas (RR 0,5; IC 95 por ciento 0,3-1,0; p=0,03). Sin embargo, la prevención de parto prematuro no fue reproducida en estudio diseñado específicamente para ello. Conclusiones: Los estudios reportan un mayor contenido de DHA materno y neonatal en respuesta a la su-plementación prenatal con este ácido graso. Sin embargo, la ausencia actual de efectos clínicos relevantes no permite apoyar ni descartar completamente esta intervención durante el embarazo.

Aims: To evaluate maternal and fetal benefits of prenatal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Method: Systematic review of clinical randomized controlled trials. Results: Prenatal DHA supplementation increased DHA levels on maternal blood, breast milk or neonatal cells. Maternal supplementation with DHA neither reduced mother's depressive symptoms nor improved the neurological and visual performance of the children. Although it was observed a reduction in risk of cognitive delay between infants of women supplemented with DHA (RR 0.4; IC95 percent 0.22-0.78) and a better performance in the mental processing at the age of 4, the 7 years follow-up showed absence of significant differences in the intellectual level. The secondary analysis of two studies showed that the supplementation with DHA reduced the risk of premature birth <34 weeks (RR 0.49; IC95 percent 0.25-0.94; p=0.03), neonatal ICU hospitalizations (RR 0.57; IC95 percent 0.34-0.97; p=0.04), birth weight <2500 g (RR 0.65; IC95 percent 0.44-0.96; p=0.03) and intrauterine growth restriction in nulliparous patients (RR 0.5; IC95 percent 0.3-1.0; p=0.03). Nevertheless, prevention of premature birth was not reproduced in a specifically designed study. Conclusions: Studies report an increased mother and neonatal content of DHA in response to prenatal supplementation with this polyunsaturated long chain fatty acid. Nevertheless, at date the absence of relevant clinical effects do not permit to support or to reject maternal dietary supplementation with DHA during pregnancy.