RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: During the last decades the number of births in women with 35 or more years of age has increased approximately 35-50. OBJECTIVE: To establish the neonatal morbidity associated with advanced maternal age, compared with mothers in the optimal reproductive stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control survey. In 1999 we revised 210 records from neonates and mothers with 35 or more years of age (cases) and 210 records of neonates and mothers with age between 18 and 34 years (controls). The variability significance was established with t-student, X2 and risk with the probabilistic risk ratio. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the socioeconomic and educational level. Advanced maternal age predisposed 2.43 times indication for cesarean section, increased the risk for gestational diabetes (11.35), toxemia (4.11) and in its severe form (2 times). Miscarriage menace (5.65 times). Lower birth weight (p < 0.007) and wet lung syndrome were more frequent in the advanced age group (p < 0.02). Risk for hypoglycemia was 1.62. There was also an increase in the risk for Trisomy 21 (p < 0.05) with an OR of 4 in cases. Genetic service evaluated 35 patients in the maternal advanced age group with an OR of 35. CONCLUSIONS: Advance maternal age increases maternal morbidity and the risk for preterm delivery, low birth weight, asymptomatic hypoglycemia, wet lung syndrome and risk for chromosomopathies.