English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Advanced maternal age generally signifies age after 35 years at the time of delivery. Maternal age is an important determinant of the outcome of pregnancy. Elderly women are at a high risk of several complications like abortion, ectopic pregnancy, preterm labour, hypertension, gestational diabetes, malpresentation and instrumental deliveries. Older the women, higher the fetal complications like Downs syndrome, preterm baby, low birth weight (LBW) babies and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The purpose of this study was to assess the fetomaternal outcome in elderly pregnancy at a tertiary care centre. METHODS This study was a prospective hospital-based study of 100 elderly pregnant women aged 35 years and above admitted in OBG Department, Government General Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, from June 2020 to May 2021. The labor ward register and case records were used for all elderly gravida women admitted and delivered and details of these patients was recorded in the proforma. RESULTS In this study, 68 % were in 35 - 37 years, 32 % were in 38 - 40 years age group. 36 % were primigravida and 64 % were multigravida. 76 % women were housewives and 24 % women were employed. 32 % of women had history of previous abortions. Hypertensive disorders were observed in 42 % of patients, gestational diabetes was observed in 28 % of patients, antepartum haemorrhage was observed in 24 % of patients, IUGR was noted in 20 % of patients and preterm delivery was noted in 10 % of patients. 46 % of patients were delivered by vaginal route and 40 % of patients were delivered by caesarean section. 7.69 % were intrauterine devices (IUDs), 3.85 % had congenital anomalies. CONCLUSIONS Elderly women are at a high risk of developing several maternal and fetal complications. Many of these complications can be successfully managed with improved health services, pre-conceptional counselling and frequent antenatal visits. KEYWORDS Advanced Maternal Age, Maternal Complication, Caesarean, Preterm Delivery