Background: Advanced maternal age, over 35 years, is a well-known risk factor for
poor pregnancy outcomes. It is commonly associated with various pregnancy
complications, such as spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia/toxemia,
gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm labor, stillbirth, chromosomal
abnormalities, and cesarean delivery. Objectives: This study assessed
obstetric and neonatal complications associated with advanced maternal age. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 199 pregnant women over 35 years old at King
Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January to June
2022. We gathered data on age, nationality, number of antenatal visits, results
of ultrasound scans for dating and viability, nuchal translucency and anatomy
surveys, medications and multivitamins taken during pregnancy, smoking status,
pregnancy, and fetal complications, and mode of delivery. Results: The
prevalence of obstetric complications was 71.4% (preeclampsia/toxemia, 4.5%;
antepartum hemorrhage, 4%; postpartum hemorrhage, 1%; and gestational diabetes,
23.1%). The most frequent complication was preterm labor between 34 and 36
weeks (48%), and only 12.6% of all deliveries were associated with fetal and
neonatal complications such as congenital anomalies and neonatal jaundice. The
prevalence of anemia during pregnancy was 10.1%, 21.1%, and 28.6% in the first,
second, and third trimesters, respectively, and pregnancies complicated with
antepartum or postpartum hemorrhage were associated with higher rates of anemia
in the second trimester. A significant relationship was found between mean
maternal age (38.84 ± 2.75 years) and the development of maternal complications
(p < 0.05). Newborns with neonatal complications were much more likely to be
born to mothers with a history of antepartum hemorrhage and anemia in the
second trimester. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that pregnancy at an
advanced maternal age is associated with increased overall maternal
complications. The most
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