Impact Of Maternal Age Research Articles

The maternal-age-associated risk of congenital heart disease is modifiable

Maternal age is a risk factor for congenital heart disease even in the absence of any chromosomal abnormality in the newborn1-7. Whether the basis of the risk resides with the mother or oocyte is unknown. The impact of maternal age on congenital heart disease can be modeled in mouse pups that harbor a mutation of the cardiac transcription factor gene Nkx2-58. Here, reciprocal ovarian transplants between young and old mothers establish a maternal basis for the age-associated risk. A high-fat diet does not accelerate the effect of maternal aging, so hyperglycemia and obesity do not simply explain the mechanism. The age-associated risk varies with the mother's strain background, making it a quantitative genetic trait. Most remarkably, voluntary exercise, whether begun by mothers at a young age or later in life, can mitigate the risk when they are older. Thus, even when the offspring carry a causal mutation, an intervention aimed at the mother can meaningfully reduce their risk of congenital heart disease.

The impact of maternal age at marriage on malnutrition of hospitalized children in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The impact of maternal age at marriage on malnutrition of hospitalized children in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Impact of maternal age on obstetric and neonatal outcome with emphasis on primiparous adolescents and older women: a Swedish Medical Birth Register Study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the associations between maternal age and obstetric and neonatal outcomes in primiparous women with emphasis on teenagers and older women.DesignA population-based cohort study.SettingThe Swedish Medical Birth Register.ParticipantsPrimiparous women...

Combination Effect of Maternal Age and Temperature on the Rate of Increase of the Cowpea Weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the most serious insect pest attacking stored pulses in tropical and subtropical regions. The effects of maternal age on offspring fitness of the cowpea weevil have been previously studied, but the combined effects of maternal age and temperature are reported here for the first time. Adult longevity was negatively correlated with temperature, and female longevity was longer than males. The number of eggs deposited daily was negatively correlated with maternal age for the tested temperatures. Females required 24 hours longer at 20 o C and 25 o C and 12 hours longer at 30 o C than males to develop from egg to the adult stage. The mean intrinsic rates of increase were 0.06, 0.10, and 0.15 at 20, 25, and 30 o C, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between maternal age and development time at 25 o C. Percent survival was negatively correlated with the maternal age at 20 and 30 o C. The effects of maternal age were not consistent at the three tested temperatures; therefore, there is a need for additional studies of the impact of maternal age on offspring quality under different biotic and abiotic conditions.

The impact of maternal age over forty years on the caesarean section rate: Six year experience at a busy District General Hospital

A retrospective study over a 6-year period was undertaken to determine the trend in age at booking for antenatal care at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and to investigate the relationship between maternal age at booking for antenatal care and mode of delivery. Between 2006 and 2011, there was an 80% increase in the number of women over the age of 40 years booking for antenatal care. The overall caesarean section rate in this cohort of women increased from 34.6% in 2006 to 53.7% in 2011, comprising of an increase in both elective and emergency caesarean sections. It appears that increasing maternal age may explain a significant proportion of the rising caesarean section rate in our unit.

Prognosis for patients using frozen testicular sperm and impact of maternal age

Limited data is available on clinical outcomes with frozen testicular sperm as many programs still prefer fresh biopsies. While presence of motile/ twitching sperm is linked to successful fertilization using frozen-thawed testicular sperm, few studies have looked at the impact of maternal age on final clinical outcomes. Such data may be a useful tool to improve patient counseling and manage expectations.

Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium intake affect rates of bone calcium deposition during pregnancy and the early postpartum period

Factors affecting bone calcium deposition across pregnancy and lactation are not well characterized. The impact of maternal age, calcium intake, race-ethnicity, and vitamin D status on the rate of bone calcium deposition (VO+) was assessed across pregnancy and lactation. Stable calcium isotopes were given to 46 women at pre- or early pregnancy (trimester 1), late pregnancy (trimester 3), and 3-10 wk postpartum. Three cohorts were included: 23 adolescents from Baltimore (MD), aged 16.5 ± 1.4 y (mean ± SD; Baltimore cohort); 13 adults from California, aged 29.5 ± 2.6 y (California cohort); and 10 adults from Brazil, aged 30.4 ± 4.0 y (Brazil cohort). The total exchangeable calcium pool, VO+, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D], parathyroid hormone, and calcium intake were evaluated. At trimester 3, inverse associations between 1,25(OH)₂D and VO+ were evident in the Baltimore (P = 0.059) and Brazil (P = 0.008) cohorts and in the whole group (P = 0.029); calcium intake was not a significant determinant of VO+ in any group during pregnancy. At postpartum, a significant positive association was evident between VO+ and calcium intake (P ≤ 0.002) and between VO+ and African ethnicity (P ≤ 0.004) in the whole group and within the Baltimore and Brazil cohorts. Elevated 1,25(OH)₂D was associated with decreased rates of bone calcium deposition during late pregnancy, a finding that was particularly evident in pregnant adolescents and adult women with low calcium intakes. Higher dietary calcium intakes and African ethnicity were associated with elevated rates of bone calcium deposition in the postpartum period.

Twenty-year trends in the prevalence of Down syndrome and other trisomies in Europe: impact of maternal age and prenatal screening

This study examines trends and geographical differences in total and live birth prevalence of trisomies 21, 18 and 13 with regard to increasing maternal age and prenatal diagnosis in Europe. Twenty-one population-based EUROCAT registries covering 6.1 million births between 1990 and 2009 participated. Trisomy cases included live births, fetal deaths from 20 weeks gestational age and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly. We present correction to 20 weeks gestational age (ie, correcting early terminations for the probability of fetal survival to 20 weeks) to allow for artefactual screening-related differences in total prevalence. Poisson regression was used. The proportion of births in the population to mothers aged 35+ years in the participating registries increased from 13% in 1990 to 19% in 2009. Total prevalence per 10000 births was 22.0 (95% CI 21.7-22.4) for trisomy 21, 5.0 (95% CI 4.8-5.1) for trisomy 18 and 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.2) for trisomy 13; live birth prevalence was 11.2 (95% CI 10.9-11.5) for trisomy 21, 1.04 (95% CI 0.96-1.12) for trisomy 18 and 0.48 (95% CI 0.43-0.54) for trisomy 13. There was an increase in total and total corrected prevalence of all three trisomies over time, mainly explained by increasing maternal age. Live birth prevalence remained stable over time. For trisomy 21, there was a three-fold variation in live birth prevalence between countries. The rise in maternal age has led to an increase in the number of trisomy-affected pregnancies in Europe. Live birth prevalence has remained stable overall. Differences in prenatal screening and termination between countries lead to wide variation in live birth prevalence.

Concentration of Free Amino Acids in Human Milk of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy Women

It is generally agreed that breastfeeding has a positive effect on the metabolic situation in diabetic mothers. However, negative long-term effects are described for breastfed offspring of diabetic women. It is unknown if the composition of free amino acids (FAAs) in breastmilk of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) differs from that in milk of healthy women. We studied the amount of FAAs in breastmilk of women with GDM and women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Human milk samples of 68 women (21 GDM and 47 NGT) were analyzed. Contents of FAAs in milk samples, obtained within the first 4 days after delivery (colostrum) and 6 weeks later (mature milk), were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Total amounts of FAAs in colostrum and in mature milk were compared between the groups. The impact of maternal age, body mass index (BMI), gestational age at birth, birth weight, and diagnosis of GDM on the total amount of FAAs was evaluated. Overall, the total amount of FAAs increased significantly from colostrum to mature milk in both groups (p<0.001). The total amount of FAAs did not significantly differ between GDM and NGT in colostrum and in mature milk (1,560 μmol/L vs. 1,730 μmol/L and 2,440 μmol/L vs. 2,723 μmol/L, respectively). No significant influence on the total amount of FAAs at both measurements of maternal age, BMI, gestational age at birth, birth weight, and diagnosis of GDM could be observed by regression analyses. The content of FAAs of human milk does not significantly differ between women with GDM and women with NGT.

120: Impact of maternal age and parity in management and outcome of major obstetric haemorrhage

Major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH) is a life threatening obstetric complication accounting for 8% of maternal deaths in developed countries. It can require surgical intervention which often compromises future fertility. We sought to examine the influence of age and parity on rates of peripartum hysterectomy (PH) compared to fertility sparing techniques.

A cross-sectional study of umbilical cord blood donor profiles and their influence on umbilical cord blood collection in a Brazilian hospital

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are a new alternative to bone marrow source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and their use has increased in the last decade. Thus efforts are being made to improve the umbilical cord blood unit's quality. Besides compatibility, other factors, such as the total nucleated cell (TNC) count and the percentage of CD34(+) cells in the product, are very important for a successful transplant outcome. Our aim was to describe our donor population and assess the best cord blood collection technique at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein's cord blood bank (São Paulo, Brazil). This was a retrospective study in which all analyses were performed simultaneously. A Student's t-test was used for qualitative variables for non-matched samples. For qualitative analyses, we used either the chi-square test or the exact Fisher's test. The stratification of the population characteristics allowed us to determine which ones had an impact on unit volume, TNC count and percentage of CD34(+) cells. A significant correlation was observed between donor characteristics and the quality of UCB units as related to maternal and gestational age, type of pregnancy, route of delivery, cord blood collection technique and birth weight. We found that cord blood collection technique and newborn weight were significantly correlated with the TNC content. The collection technique used at our institution significantly improved the UCB unit volume and consequently the TNC count. Some findings, such as the impact of maternal age and newborn weight, have led us to re-evaluate our protocol in order to achieve better results.

The Impact of Maternal Age on Fetal Death

Log in or Register Subscribe to journalSubscribe Get new issue alertsGet alerts Enter your Email address: Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Subscribe to eTOC Secondary Logo Journal Logo All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search Toggle navigation Subscribe Register Login Articles & Issues Current IssuePrevious Issues Collections Obstetric Airway ManagementMaternal EmbolismRegional Anesthesia for Cesarean SectionGeneral Anesthesia for Cesarean SectionAnalgesia for LaborObstetric HemorrhagePre-Eclampsia/EclampsiaPharmacologyTraumaInfection and SepsisMaternal ObesityMaternl Morbidity and MortalityNeonatal Morbidity and MortalityObstetric ComplicationsAnesthetic ComplicationsNon-Obstetric Maternal DiseaseCritical CareDrug Abuse in PregnancyEthicsSystems Based Practice For Authors Information for AuthorsLanguage Editing Services Journal Info About the JournalEditorial BoardAdvertisingOpen AccessSubscription ServicesReprintsRights and Permissions All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search

Impact of maternal age on the incidence of obstetrical complications in Japan

To clarify the effect of maternal age on obstetrical complications through a cohort and case-cohort study. We studied 242 715 births at 125 centers of a perinatal network in Japan from 2001 through 2005 as a base cohort. Women with single pregnancies who delivered after 22 weeks of gestation were included in the study. Six classes of maternal age were selected: <20; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; and ≥40 years. The cohort study was used to investigate whether age is related to obstetrical complications. By random selection 3749 births were determined as a subcohort. Risk ratio (RR) was determined using multivariate analysis in the case-cohort study. The incidence proportion (per 100 births) of pregnancy-induced hypertension, cervical insufficiency, placenta previa, and placental abruption increased with age, whereas the incidence proportion of preterm labor and chorioamnionitis were higher at younger maternal age. The RR of women in the age groups 35-39 years and ≥40 years (with the reference of 1.0 for women in the age group of 20-34 years) were determined: pregnancy-induced hypertension, 1.66, 2.55; placenta previa, 1.76, 2.19; and placental abruption, 1.18, 1.5. The RR of preterm labor for women in the age group of <20 years was 1.78. The effect of maternal age differs for each obstetrical complication, and thus, it is important to understand these differences for management of individual pregnant patients.

The Impact of Maternal Age on Fetal Death: Does Length of Gestation Matter?

As more number of women above the age of 35 years have children, the well-known negative affect of high maternal age on fetal death risk has increased significance. A number of investigators have suggested an association between fetal death and maternal age at different gestational ages; however, few studies have examined this possible association. In a large study conducted in the United States between 2001 and 2002, the risk of stillbirth among women of advanced maternal age was higher across all gestational ages, with a peak risk in postterm pregnancies. The death rate seems to be high at 20–22 weeks' gestation, lowest at 27–33 weeks' gestation, and increases rapidly from 37 through 43 weeks. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate the association of fetal death according to maternal age by length of gestation. Medical Birth Registry data in Norway was obtained for the period between 1967 and 2006 on all ongoing pregnancies after 16 weeks of gestation (n = 2,182,756 births). The association of fetal death with maternal age in term and postterm pregnancies was also estimated for 2 different periods: 1967–1986 and 1987–2006. At gestational lengths beyond 36 weeks, there was increased risk of fetal death in the oldest women, with increasing difference between younger and older mothers. The risk of fetal death in gestational weeks 42 and 43 among mothers 40 years and older was 5-fold higher than in the younger age group. The elevated risk of fetal death with postterm pregnancies in the older age group observed during the1967–1986 time frame was attenuated during the1987–2006 study period. These findings suggest that the highest risk of fetal death during pregnancy, especially term and postterm pregnancies, occurs among women aged ≥40 years. The attenuation of risk after 1986 exists due to the introduction of modern obstetric care, especially the widespread use of ultrasound, allowing diagnosis of fetal abnormalities at early gestational ages and better estimation of gestational age.

Premature Infants Born to Adolescent Mothers: Health Care Utilization After Initial Discharge

Objective Premature infants have increased health care utilization after initial discharge compared with term infants. Young maternal age has been shown to impact health care utilization among term infants, but little is known about the impact of maternal age on health care utilization among premature infants. We compared health care utilization among premature infants of adolescent (aged ≤19 years) and young adult (aged 20–29 years) mothers, hypothesizing that premature infants of adolescent mothers would have increased acute care utilization, while having decreased preventive care utilization. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed health care utilization of premature infants born to adolescent mothers (n = 76) compared with premature infants born to young adult mothers (n = 587) within a cohort of premature infants born between 1998 and 2001 in an integrated health care delivery system. Results After controlling for illness severity, premature infants born to adolescent mothers had significantly increased odds of medical rehospitalizations (odds ratio 3.57, 95% confidence interval, 1.81–7.05) and emergency department visits (odds ratio 3.67, 95% confidence interval, 2.11–6.39) during the first year after initial discharge compared with premature infants born to young adult mothers. Differences in rehospitalization rates were significant within the first 3 months after discharge ( P < .001). Frequency of preventive care visits was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Despite similar severity of chronic illness and similar preventive care utilization, premature infants born to adolescent mothers had significantly increased rates of rehospitalizations and emergency department visits compared with premature infants born to young adult mothers.

The impact of maternal age on fetal death: does length of gestation matter?

The objective of the investigation was to study the association of fetal death with maternal age by length of gestation. This was a population study including all ongoing pregnancies after 16 weeks of gestation in Norway during the period 1967-2006 (n = 2,182,756). The risk of fetal death was 1.4 times higher in women 40-44 years old than in women aged 20-24 years in midpregnancy but 2.8 times higher at term. In term pregnancies the relative importance of maternal age increased by additional pregnancy weeks. In gestational weeks 42-43, the crude risk was 5.1 times higher in mothers 40 years old or older. In the recent period, the elevated risk of fetal death in elderly mothers at term has been attenuated. Women 40 years old or older had the highest risk of fetal death throughout pregnancy, particularly in term and postterm pregnancies. Improved obstetric care may explain the attenuation of risk associated with age in recent time.

The impact of maternal age on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on attention.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol has a variety of morphologic and neurobehavioral consequences, yet more than 10% of women continue to drink during pregnancy, placing their offspring at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Identification of at-risk pregnancies has been difficult, in part, because the presence and severity of FASD are influenced by factors beyond the pattern of alcohol consumption. Establishing maternal characteristics, such as maternal age, that increase the risk of FASD is critical for targeted pregnancy intervention. We examined the moderating effect of maternal age on measures of attention in 462 children from a longitudinal cohort born to women with known alcohol consumption levels (absolute ounces of alcohol per day at conception) who were recruited during pregnancy. Analyses examined the impact of binge drinking, as average ounces of absolute alcohol per drinking day. Smoking and use of cocaine, marijuana, and opiates were also assessed. At 7 years of age, the children completed the Continuous Performance Test, and their teachers completed the Achenbach Teacher Report Form. After controlling for covariates, stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed a negative relation between levels of prenatal binge drinking and several measures of attention. The interaction between alcohol consumption and maternal age was also significant, indicating that the impact of maternal binge drinking during pregnancy on attention was greater among children born to older drinking mothers. These findings are consistent with previous findings that children born to older alcohol-using women have more deleterious effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on other neurobehavioral outcomes.

131. SIRT3 IN OVARIAN CELLS IS ALTERED BY MATERNAL AGE AND OVARIAN RESERVE

Maternal age and reduced AMH levels affect the follicular environment and consequently oocyte viability. The Sirtuin family of protein deacetylases are able to regulate various cellular functions involved in the ageing process in other tissues. In particular, SIRT3 is related to longevity in several cell types and regulates mitochondrial function, however, its presence and role in ovarian cells remains unknown. This study therefore, investigated the presence of SIRT3 in granulosa and cumulus cells, from patients undergoing IVF, and determined the impact of maternal age and low AMH on SIRT3 levels. Granulosa and cumulus cells were collected from women (n = 36), after informed consent, and classified into 3 groups; A (&lt;35 years, normal AMH), B (&gt;40 years (advanced maternal age), normal AMH) and C (&lt;35 years, low AMH). The presence of SIRT3 was determined by q-PCR (expressed as fold-change) or immunohistochemistry. SIRT3 was present in the ovarian cells of all patients analysed. SIRT3 gene expression was reduced in granulosa cells from women with low AMH (0.67 ± 0.17) compared to women with normal AMH (1.00 ± 0.23; P &lt; 0.05). In cumulus cells, levels were reduced with advanced maternal age (0.81 ± 0.08) compared to women &lt;35 years (1.00 ± 0.22; P &lt; 0.05). SIRT3 protein co-localised with mitochondria in the ovarian cells, confirming previous findings for other cell types. In comparison to women &lt;35 years with normal AMH, image analysis determined that SIRT3 protein levels were significantly reduced in the granulosa and cumulus cells from women of advanced maternal age by 21.4% and 31.8% and in women with low AMH by 34.1% and 47.2% respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate SIRT3 presence in human ovarian cells. The observation that SIRT3 levels are altered by advanced maternal age or low AMH (reduced ovarian reserve) implicate its role in ovarian ageing and plausibly in the decrease in oocyte viability observed in these women.

Severity of prematurity risk in spontaneous and in vitro fertilization twins: does conception mode serve as a risk factor?

Because assisted reproductive technology (ART) contributes to world-wide increases in twin pregnancies, we retrospectively evaluated whether preterm twin gestations after ART are at higher risk for delivery at earlier gestational ages compared with naturally conceived twins. The evaluation of 204 dichorial twin pregnancies, 102 after natural conception and 102 after ART, matched for maternal age, demonstrated comparable severity of prematurity risk in both groups.

A pilot study exploring the impact of maternal age and raised body mass index on caesarean section rates

SummaryA 2-phase study assessing the impact of obesity and increasing maternal age on caesarean section rates was performed. Phase 1 was retrospective and involved comparing caesarean section rates in spontaneously labouring nullipara and spontaneously labouring nullipara weighing 60–80 kg and aged 20–35 (standard nullipara), delivering between 1992 and 2006. In the 15 years studied there was a rise in the caesarean section rate from 6.5% to 19.0%, although the increase was less marked in the standard nullipara (4.8–15.5%). Phase 2 was prospective and involved collecting delivery data of singleton cephalic nullipara spontaneously labouring at term. The data of 126 women was collected of whom 99 were non-obese and 27 were obese. Statistical analysis compared the delivery outcomes between the two groups and showed that obese women were 5.82 times more likely to have a caesarean section compared with non-obese women. This finding was highly statistically significant (p = 0.005).