The association of advanced maternal age with maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy in Filipino patients in a tertiary medical center: An analytical cross-sectional study / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT

Background@#For the past decade, advanced maternal age (AMA) became more common in developed and developing countries due to the postponement of pregnancy because of career goals, widespread use of family planning, and advances in assisted reproductive techniques. This increase bears an impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes. The link between AMA and adverse maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcome showed contradicting results. This study was conducted to investigate the association between AMA and adverse outcomes among nulliparous, Filipino with singleton pregnancies who gave birth in a private tertiary hospital. @*Methodology@#Medical records of patients admitted for delivery between January 2015 and December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The control (20–34 years), AMA 35–39 years, very AMA 40–44 years, and extremely advanced maternal age (EAMA) 45 years and above groups included 206, 111, 18, and 2, respectively. @*Results@#Five-year total deliveries at a private tertiary hospital were 8495 with a prevalence of 38.9% (95% confidence interval CI 33.6%–44.3%) for elderly Filipino primigravids. AMA is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and small for gestational age newborn in all 3 advanced age groups. Pregnancy induced hypertension, having cesarean section, admission of newborn to neonatal intensive care unit, and administration of antibiotics were more common to AMA but same risk for EAMA. AMA predisposes to having oligohydramnios, placenta previa and preterm delivery but pregnancy at EAMA predisposes more complications in maternal and neonatal outcomes such as having polyhydramnios, abruptio placenta, postpartum hemorrhage, maternal and neonatal death, low Appearance Pulse Grimace Activity and Respiration score, and stillbirth. There is no noted association between AMA and large for gestational age newborn, having meconium staining and delivering by classical cesarean section. @*Conclusion@#AMA in Filipino gravida patients is markedly linked with adverse obstetrical, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes. This study confirms the current trend among women over 45 years that leads to more significant obstetric complications and neonatal morbidities.