Advanced maternal age and pregnancy outcome

To assess the effect of maternal age on obstetric intervention and pregnancy outcome, a retrospective study compared obstetric intervention, pregnancy complications and outcome in 73 women of age > 35 years with 471 women of age 20-25 years attending Prince Ali Military Hospital, Jordan from June 1999 to May 2000. Older women were found to have significantly higher rates of medical complications such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Despite significantly increased frequency of large babies, trisomy 21, twin pregnancy and antepartum haemorrhage, overall outcome was satisfactory. We conclude that older women, managed by modern obstetric methods and delivered in a modern health-care centre, can expect good pregnancy outcomes.