title: Delivery outcomes for nulliparous women at the extremes of maternal age - a cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between extremes of maternal age (≤17 years or ≥40 years) and delivery outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban maternity hospital in Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 916 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who delivered between 2000 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population was subdivided into five maternal age groups based on age at first booking visit: ≤17 years, 18-19 years, 20-34 years, 35-39 years and women aged ≥40 years. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between extremes of maternal age and delivery outcomes, adjusting for potential confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preterm birth, admission to the neonatal unit, congenital anomaly, caesarean section.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with maternal age 20-34 years, age ≤17 years was a risk factor for preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 1.83, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.33-2.52). Babies born to mothers ≥40 years were more likely to require admission to the neonatal unit (adjOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.72) and to have a congenital anomaly (adjOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.07-2.76). The overall caesarean section rate in nulliparous women was 23.9% with marked differences at the extremes of maternal age; 10.7% at age ≤17 years (adjOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.62) and 54.4% at age ≥40 years (adjOR 3.24, 95% CI 2.67-3.94).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extremes of maternal age need to be recognised as risk factors for adverse delivery outcomes. Low caesarean section rates in younger women suggest that a reduction in overall caesarean section rates may be possible.
authors.affiliation: Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age extremes; caesarean section; cohort study; delivery outcomes; maternal age