Detection of foetal anomaly in advanced maternal age.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of foetal anomaly diagnosed during a detailed ultrasonography amongst patients of advanced maternal age (AMA) and to identify the related anomalies in these age groups.

METHOD

A retrospective observational study amongst AMA mothers was done in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, a Malaysian teaching hospital. The data over a period of three years (January 2013 - December 2016) obtained from the Maternal Foetal Medicine clinic registry was analysed. AMA mothers with singleton pregnancy presenting for foetal structural anomaly scan was included. They were later subdivided into 2 groups (35-39 years and ≥ 40 years). The logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association of the chromosomal anomalies and the age groups.

RESULTS

In all 486 patients were recruited and 84 patients were identified with foetal anomaly (17.3%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of foetal anomalies or significant association with a specific structural foetal anomaly identified (p>0.05). However, the number of followups for these patients are significantly higher (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of structural foetal anomalies identified in detailed ultrasonography was low in AMA mothers. Hence, referral criteria for detailed anomaly ultrasonography need to be re-looked.