A Clinical and Statistical Study in Pregnant Women Over the Age of 35

Yang, Y K; Jung, B W; Jung, J K; Lee, M J; Yoon, K H; Shin, S K

Abstract

According to most studies, there are numerous complications of pregnancy-affecting both the mother and the fetus or neonate-among women over the age of 35. So, we have compared 542 cases of the elderly gravida over the age of 35 at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mokpo, St. Columban`s Hospital, from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1996, with 500 cases randomly chosen young pregnant women during the same period. There results were as follows. 1. There were 542 cases of the elderly gravida among total 10706 deliveries and the incidence of the elderly gravida was 5.06%. 2. The rate of elderly gravida was increased from 4.72% in 1994 to 5.39% in 1996. 3. The maternal age distribution of elderly gravida was from 35 years to 46 years. 4. The parity of elderly gravida was that primigravida was 12.2% and multigravida was 87.8%. 5. 501 cases (92.4%) of total cases were vertex presentation and breech presentation was in 34 cases (6.3%), transverse lie in 7 cases (1.3%). 6. The preterm pregnancy was 9.2% compared with 10.4% in control group. The postterm pregnancy was 3.1% compared with 5.4% in control group. 7. The rate of cesarean section was 42.4% compared with 22.4% in control group. Among the incidence of cesarean section the highest incidence was previous cesarean section (41.3%). Other indications were elderly primigravida (28.7%), cephalopelvic disproportion (7.0%), and abnormal presentation (8.3%) in order. 8. Concerning the prenatal complication, the incidence of hypertensive disorder was 5.4% compared with 3.6% in control group. 9. The Incidence of low birth weight was 12.0% compared with 6.4% in control group. 10. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.22: 1 compared with 1.09 : 1 in control group.