OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of advanced maternal age on birth defects and postnatal complications of neonates.

METHODSAmong the 1 109 neonates who were born at The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province between January 2014 and December 2015, 536 neonates whose mothers were aged ≥35 years were enrolled as advanced age group and 573 neonates whose mothers were aged <35 years were enrolled as appropriate-age group. The incidences of the comorbidities in pregnancy, fetal intrauterine distress, neonatal birth defects, and postnatal complications were compared between the two groups. A univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the effect of advanced maternal age on neonatal comorbidities during perinatal period.

RESULTSCompared with the appropriate-age group, the advanced age group had significantly higher rate of caesarean section and incidence rates of multiple birth, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, in vitro fertilization, and fetal intrauterine distress (P<0.01). The neonates in the advanced age group had a significantly higher incidence rate of cleft lip and palate and a significantly lower rate of skeletal dysplasia than in the appropriate-age group (P<0.05). Advanced maternal age was the risk factor for fetal intrauterine distress (OR=2.27, 95%CI: 1.33-3.88, P=0.003), neonatal resuscitation (OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.19-2.31, P=0.003), and intracranial hemorrhage (OR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.21-6.04, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONSThe women of maternal advanced age have higher incidence rates of pregnancy comorbidities than those of appropriate age, and the neonates born to the mothers of advanced maternal age have a higher incidence rate of cleft lip and palate. Advanced maternal age may increase the risks of fetal intrauterine distress, neonatal resuscitation, and intracranial hemorrhage.