title: Pregnancy outcome in primiparae of advanced maternal age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of maternal age on singleton pregnancy outcome, taking into account intermediate and confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this population-based retrospective cohort study, perinatal data of primiparous women aged 35 years or more (n = 2970), giving birth to a singleton child of at least 500 g, were compared to data of primiparous women aged 25-29 years old (n = 23,921). Univariate analysis was used to assess the effect of maternal age on pregnancy outcomes. The effects of intermediate (hypertension, diabetes and assisted conception) and confounding factors (level of education) were assessed through multivariable logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older maternal age correlated, independently of confounding and intermediate factors, with very preterm birth (gestational age <32 weeks) [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.51, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-2.19], low birth weight (birth weight <2500 g) (AOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.47-1.94) and perinatal death (AOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.06-2.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal age is an important and independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Ilse.Delbaere@UGent.be
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delbaere
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verstraelen
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goetgeluk
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics; D047928:Premature Birth; D012189:Retrospective Studies