Women Aged over 40 with Twin Pregnancies Have a Higher Risk of Adverse Obstetrical Outcomes

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-12, Vol.18 (24), p.13117
• Main Authors: De la Calle, María, Bartha, Jose L, García, Laura, Cuerva, Marcos J, Ramiro-Cortijo, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Amniotic fluid; Anemia; Birth weight; Blood diseases; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cesarean Section; Chronic illnesses; Complications; Female; Fetuses; Gallbladder diseases; Gestational age; Gestational diabetes; Humans; Hypertension; In vitro fertilization; Infant, Newborn; Labor; Maternal Age; Neonates; Obstetrics; Placenta; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Outcome - epidemiology; Pregnancy, Twin; Premature birth; Reproductive technologies; Retrospective Studies; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Variables; Womens health
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413117

Maternal age is related to a higher risk of adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies. However, whether this increase in adverse outcomes is due solely to age or due to risk factors that are more common in women over 40 remains unknown. The aim of this study is to assess if maternal age over 40 years old is an independent risk factor for obstetric adverse outcomes in dichorionic diamniotic twin gestations. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we compared the obstetric outcomes of women with dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies below and over 40 years of age. A twin pregnancy cohort enrolled between 2013 and 2019 was included in the study. Maternal, fetal, and labor complications were recorded. A total of 510 women were analyzed in two groups: 266 women below 40 years old and 244 women over 40 years old. Maternal age over 40 increased the odds of maternal (aOR = 1.9 (1.3; 2.9); -value = 0.002), fetal (aOR = 1.8 (1.0; 3.0); -value = 0.037), and labor complications (aOR = 2.5 (1.3; 4.6); -value = 0.004). Maternal age over 40 years was the most important factor increasing the odds of having a caesarean section (C-section). Over 40 years old was an independent risk factor for complications in dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies.