Elderly primigravida and pregnancy outcome

Abstract EN

Objective : to examine the obstetric performance of elderly primigravida aged 35 years or over, compared to primigravida between 20 and 25 years of age.

Methods : over a six-year period (1994-2000), the obstetric performance of 172 primigravida aged 35 years or over, was compared to 190 randomly selected young primigravida between 20 and 25 years of age, who were managed during the same period in the same hospitals.

Results : elderly primigravida > 35 years old had more common complications with significant statistical differences for chronic hypertension (p < 0.01), superimposed pre-eclampsia, cesarean section rate (p < 0.01), deliveries instrumental (p < 0.05), and preterm labor (p < 0.05), when compared with the primigravida between 20 and 25 years of age.

They also showed greater tendency to antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, fetal distress, breech and transverse lie, diabetes mellitus, low birth weight, fibroids, deliveries instrumental, 3rd degree tear, induced labor and low Apgar score, but with no statistically significant difference.

No other differences in obstetric and neonatal outcomes were found between the two groups.

Conclusion : Elderly primigravida aged 35 years and above had more complicated antenatal and labor courses than young.

Primigravida between 20 and 25 years of age.

On the other hand, the neonatal outcomes of the two groups were comparable.