Outcomes of women age 40 or more undergoing repeat cesarean or trial of labor after cesarean

Abstract

Aim

Despite the increasing trend in delayed childbirth and the known associated complications in advancing maternal age, limited information exists regarding outcomes in very advanced maternal age by delivery type. This study aims to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in women age 40 or more undergoing cesarean delivery or trial of labor after cesarean delivery.

Materials and methods

We performed a secondary analysis of the Cesarean Section Registry Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network data, which was a prospective study of women undergoing repeat cesarean delivery or trial of labor after cesarean delivery from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002. Women age 40 years or more at the time of delivery were compared to the control group of women less than 40 years of age.

Results

There were 67,389 cases identified that met inclusion criteria. 2,436 (3.6%) were age ≥40 years old, and 65,403 (97.05%) were <40 at delivery. The >40 group had a higher rate of PRBC transfusion (aRR 1.75; 95% CI 1.20–2.56), maternal ICU admission (aRR 2.02; 1.41–2.89), bowel injury (aRR 3.65; 1.43–9.31), placenta accreta (aRR 1.92; 1.09–3.38) and classical uterine incision (aRR 1.59; 1.43–9.31) compared to the control group. Maternal death rates were similar in both groups (p = .30).

Conclusion

Women aged 40 or more undergoing repeat cesarean delivery or trial of labor after cesarean delivery are more likely to have maternal complications including intraoperative transfusion, maternal ICU admission, abnormal placentation and surgical complications in comparison to women under age 40.

Keywords:

• Very advanced maternal age
• TOLAC
• age 40 years
• cesarean
• maternal outcomes
• neonatal outcomes

Acknowledgement

No financial support was received.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest or disclosures.