A Clinical and Statistical Study of the Elderly Primigravida

The changing life pattern for women in current society is after a postponement of childbearing. Thus, the impact of older maternal age on pregnancy outcome becomes increasingly important.

The obstetric outcomes of women 35 years of age older are widely considered to be less favorable than those of younger women.

124 elderly primiparas at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Ewha Womans University Hospital from January. 1980. to December 30. 1990 were studied.

The results were as follows:

1) There were 124 cases of elderly primiparas among total 24,432 deliveries and the incidence of the elderly primipara was 0.4%.

2) 79.8% of elderly primipara was distributed from 35 to 38 years.

3) One parity of pregnannt women over 35 years was 163 cases(31.6%).

4) 109 cases(87.9%) of total cases were vertex presentation and 14 cases(11.2%) were breech and 1 cases(0.8%) was face presentation.

5) As regards antepartum complication, the incidence of hypertensive disorder was 17.7% and PROM was 11.2% respectively.

6) 51 cases(41.1%) were delivered vaginally and 73 cases(58.8%) were delivered abdominally.

7) Among the indication of cesarean section, the highest incidence was elderly primipara (33.1%) and other indications were CPD, breech, placenta previa and fefal distress in order.

8) The perinatal mortality rate was 96.8(9.7%) in elderly primipara and 81.8(8.2%) in elderly multipara.

9) There was no congenital malformation.

10) The mean gestational age was 38⁸weeks and preterm pregnancy(before 36 weeks) was 19 cases(15.3%).

11) The mean birth weight of the infant was 3100gm and premature baby less than 2500gm was 12.1%.