title: Perinatal mortality and advanced maternal age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of advanced maternal age on the rate of perinatal mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study including all 56,517 singleton hospital deliveries between 1999 and 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed according to maternal age at delivery in 3 groups of women, 25-34 years, 35-39 years and ≥ 40 years, using the youngest as the reference group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Odds ratios (ORs) for antenatal deaths were 0.98 (CI: 0.67-1.43) and 2.57 (CI: 1.57-4.22) for age groups 35-39 years and ≥ 40 years, respectively. Significant differences in neonatal mortality rates between the age groups were not found. Significant amendable risk factors were attendance of <4 health care visits (OR = 15.55, CI: 9.47-25.51 in age group 35-39 years; OR = 16.38, CI: 9.78-27.43 in the age group ≥ 40 years) and obesity (OR = 1.85, CI: 1.27-2.70 in age group 35-39 years; OR = 1.83, CI: 1.22-2.74 in the age group ≥ 40 years). In the multivariate regression analysis, the adjusted ORs for perinatal mortality were 1.03 (95% CI: 0.77-1.39) and 1.66 (95% CI: 1.03-2.66) for age groups 35-39 and ≥ 40, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women older than 40 years carry an increased risk for stillbirth. Important amendable risk factors are obesity and poor antenatal care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mutz-Dehbalaie
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheier
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jerabek-Klestil
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brantner
authors.forename: Gudrun H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Windbichler
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Egle
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramoni
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oberaigner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors