HIGH DELIVERY INTERVENTION RATES IN NULLIPAROUS WOMEN OVER AGE 35

Objective: To assess the effect of maternal age and parity on obstetri c interventions and pregnancy outcome. Study design: A retrospective r eview of 35 140 deliveries including 4268 parturients aged 35 years or more (1985-1992). Obstetrical interventions and outcome were analyzed in relation to age and parity. Results: Nulliparous women aged 35 yea rs or more had a 2-fold increase in cesarean delivery rate over younge r nulliparae, and 50% more cesarean deliveries than the multiparae age d 35 years or more. Similar trends were observed in preterm labor, lab or induction, breech presentation, and instrumental delivery. Higher r isk was encountered in neonatal 1 min Apgar scores <3, and in admissio ns to the neonatal intensive care unit. There were no differences in a ll parameters between women over age 40 and women aged 35-40 years. Th e perinatal mortality was not increased and was similar in all groups. Conclusions: Nulliparae aged more than 35 years are at increased risk for interventions and cesarean sections. However, women aged 35-40 ha ve a similar risk as women aged over 40 years.