Manzi J, Bichler A, Scholz K, Hetzel H, Frisch H, Geir W
Z Geburtshilfe Perinatol. 1977 Jun;181(3):168-73.
157 old primiparae (greater than 30 a) have been compared to a randomised control group of primiparae between the 16th and 30th year of age. In addition to the perinatal infant mortality rate, the number of children with malnutrition, the frequency of premature babies, the presence of a low Apgar score (less than or equal to 7) and pathological pH-values in the umbilical artery (pH less than or equal to 7,10) were cheked. Moreover the frequency of early neonatal morbidity (presence of one of the following criteria: 1 minute Apgar score less than or equal to 7, pH of the umbilical artery less than or equal to 7, 10, a transitoric or severe RDS and neurological complications during the newborn period) was investigated in both groups. In the group of the old primiparae a significantly higher perinatal infant mortality rate was found compared to the control group (3,8% versus 0,6%, p less than 0.05). The rate of small for date babies was remarcably higher than in the control group (14,6% versus 6,4%, p less than 0.05). There was no difference in the prematurity rate in both groups. The children of old primiparae had more frequently a low Apgar score (less than or equal to 7) than infants of the randomised control group (18,5% versus 11,5%), but the difference is statistically not significant. Furthermore no difference in the number of pathological pH values in the umbilical arteries (pH less than or equal to 7, 10) were found in the both groups. The children of old primiparae show a higher early neonatal morbidity rate compared to the control group (21.7% versus 14.0%); however, the difference is statistically not significant. According to our results the risk for the newborns is increased already with primiparae over 30 rather than 35 years of age.
