Neonatal outcome and its relationship with maternal age.

The relationship between maternal age and neonatal outcome was examined in 22,689 pregnancies using various determinants of neonatal well-being which included evidence of fetal distress, birth-weight, Apgar scores, the necessity for admission to the neonatal unit and other indicators of neonatal morbidity. Differences in the incidence of congenital malformations and perinatal mortality were also studied. There was a trend towards more frequent fetal heart monitoring, lower birth-weight and a higher rate of neonatal unit admission for infants delivered by younger women. There was also a significant increase in the Caesarean section rate with advancing maternal age. Maternal age had no effect, however, on the incidence of fetal distress, Apgar score, the development of respiratory disease, the need for intubation and ventilation nor on subsequent neonatal central nervous system complications. There was also no association between maternal age and either perinatal mortality or the incidence of congenital malformations. The favourable outcome in teenagers in this study may have been influenced by the extremely low pregnancy rate amongst young adolescents in Hong Kong, but a similar outcome in the mature age women was likely to have reflected the recognition of risk and its appropriate management.