This study was carried out to investigate obstetric outcomes in single pregnancies conceived by
women older than 40 compared to those of their younger counterparts in a low natality setting with high
mean age at first pregnancy. Data were collected about women who delivered in our Clinic between
January and July 2005, excluding multiple pregnancies. Statistical analysis was performed using R
(version 2.10.1), considering significant a p<0.05.We selected 688 women: 50 of them are 40 years or
older and 638 are younger. Advanced age correlates with higher BMI (p=0.056) and seems to increase
the risk of gestational hypertension (p<0.05) and gestational diabetes (p<0.05), cesarean sections
(p<0.05) and vacuum extraction (p0.089), neonatal clavicle fracture (p<0.05) and perinatal mortality
(p<0.05).Advanced age women have an increased risk of pregnancy complications, such as gestational
hypertension and diabetes, neonatal clavicle fracture and perinatal death, and undergo more frequently
cesarean sections.
