Is age over forty a risk factor for morbidity in women undergoing primary cesarean delivery?

Abstract

Cesarean delivery (CD) is associated with increased maternal morbidity including increased blood loss, need for transfusion, ICU admission and hysterectomy compared to vaginal delivery. Advanced maternal age (AMA) confers additional obstetric risks, including higher rates of CD. It is not yet well understood whether increased maternal morbidity from CD is more common among women of advanced maternal age. Our objective was to investigate the risk of complications related to primary CD among women of advanced maternal age, specifically > 40 years.