Preeclampsia in Different Maternal Age Groups—Is There an Association with Pregnancy Outcomes and Placental Pathology?

Abstract

We aimed to compare maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and placental pathology in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia at three different maternal age groups. Medical records and pathological reports of patients diagnosed with preeclampsia and delivered between 2008 and 2018 in a single tertiary center, were reviewed. Preeclampsia was diagnosed according to the current ACOG guidelines. Study population was divided into 3 groups of maternal age: group 1-< 27years; group 2-27-35years; and group 3-> 35years (advanced maternal age = AMA). Data regarding maternal characteristics, neonatal outcomes, and placental histopathological lesions were compared between the groups. Composite adverse neonatal outcome was defined as ≥ 1 early neonatal complication. The AMA group (n = 145) was associated with a higher BMI, and higher rates of diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic hypertension (CHTN), and Cesarean deliveries compared with group 1 (n = 107) and group 2 (n = 255). The AMA group also had lower neonatal birthweights and a higher rate of composite adverse neonatal outcome compared with the other age groups. None of the placental lesions differed between the groups. By multivariable analysis, we found that maternal age (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17-3.93), GA at delivery (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.61-0.90), DM (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-3.05), and CHTN (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-2.01) were independently associated with composite adverse neonatal outcome. Pregnancies at AMA were associated with higher complication rates, but without any differences in placental pathology, suggesting that the worse outcomes associated with AMA in preeclampsia are attributed to maternal chronic morbidities and not to differences observed in placental pathology.