Neonatal Outcome of Babies Born to Women 40 Years and over at the University Hospital of the West Indies 2012–2013

Abstract

This article aims to determine neonatal outcome of babies born to women ≥40 years at the University Hospital of the West Indies. This was a matched retrospective cohort study looking at the outcome of all babies born to women ≥40 years and control babies born to women aged 20-30 years at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a 2-year period. Maternal and neonatal demographic data and course of admission for admitted neonates were recorded. Descriptive analyses were performed. One hundred and ninety-eight neonates were born to women ≥40 years and 208 to their younger counterparts, M:F 1:1.2. There was no difference in the number of preterm or low birth weight infants, the number of neonates with a low 5 min Apgar score <7, the number of neonates admitted or the number of neonates who died between women ≥40 years and their younger counterparts (p > 0.05). No difference in adverse neonatal outcome was noted between women ≥40 years and their younger counterparts.