title: Increased frequency of gestational and delivery-related complications in women of 35 years of age and above.
abstract: This retrospective study evaluated gestational and delivery-related characteristics focusing on women aged 35 and above (≥ 35 years). Data were collected on maternal (n = 8,407) and newborn records during a 4-year admission period (2008-11) at the County Emergency Hospital, Tîrgu-Mureş, Romania. The prevalence of preterm deliveries increased in all age groups, from 19.5% to 27.8% (p = 0.006) in mothers ≥ 35 years. Twinning rate showed a highly significant increase, being 2.6% in 2008 and 9.5% in 2011 (p = 0.005), while caesarean delivery incidence increased from 46.3% to 51.0% in women aged ≥ 35. Our study revealed a highly significant decrease of mean gestational age and mean fetal weight, as well as a higher incidence of comorbidities and pregnancy-related complications in those aged ≥ 35 years. We assume that comorbidities, maternal and fetal indications to perform caesarean section (CS), in the more mature age group, were a main determinant of the elective or iatrogenic preterm deliveries, which might have contributed to further complications; moreover, previous CSs were likely a promoting factor for further CSs.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1, County Emergency Hospital , Tîrgu-Mureş , Romania.
authors.forename: L-K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Bereczky
authors.forename: Sz-L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szabó
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caesarean delivery; comorbidity; fetal weight; gestational age; preterm births