BackgroundPreeclampsia is a frequent syndrome and its cause has been linked to multiple factors, making prevention of the syndrome a continuous challenge. One of the suggested risk factors for preeclampsia is advanced maternal age. In the Western countries, maternal age at first delivery has been steadily increasing, yet few studies have examined women of advanced maternal age with preeclampsia. The purpose of this registry-based study was to compare the obstetric outcomes in primiparous and preeclamptic women younger and older than 35 years.MethodsThe registry-based study used data from three Finnish health registries: Finnish Medical Birth Register, Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and Register of Congenital Malformations. The sample contained women under 35 years of age (N = 15,437) compared with those 35 and over (N = 2,387) who were diagnosed with preeclampsia and had their first singleton birth in Finland between 1997 and 2008. In multivariate modeling, the main outcome measures were Preterm delivery (before 34 and 37 weeks), low Apgar score (5 min.), small-for-gestational-age, fetal death, asphyxia, Cesarean delivery, induction, blood transfusion and admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.ResultsWomen of advanced maternal age (AMA) exhibited more preeclampsia (9.4%) than younger women (6.4%). They had more prior terminations (<0.001), were more likely to have a body mass index (BMI) >25 (<0.001), had more in vitro fertilization (IVF) (<0.001) and other fertility treatments (<0.001) and a higher incidence of maternal diabetes (<0.001) and chronic hypertension (<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that women of AMA had higher rates of: preterm delivery before 37 weeks 19.2% (OR 1.39 CI 1.24 to 1.56) and before 34 weeks 8.7% (OR 1.68 CI 1.43 to 2.00) low Apgar scores at 5 min. 7.1% (OR 1.37 CI 1.00 to 1.88), Small-for-Gestational Age (SGA) 26.5% (OR 1.42 CI 1.28 to 1.57), Asphyxia 12.1% (OR 1.54 CI 1.34 to 1.77), Caesarean delivery 50% (OR 2.02 CI 1.84 to 2.20) and admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 31.6% (OR 1.45 CI 1.32 to 1.60).ConclusionsPreeclampsia is more common in women with advanced maternal age. Advanced maternal age is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes in first-time mothers with preeclampsia.

SummaryObjective: To compare pregnancy outcomes of overweight and obese pregnant women aged 35 years or older to women aged less than 35 years old. Methods: A registry-based study covering years 2004-2008 including data on women ≥35 years (N = 45,718) compared to those <35 years (N = 203,930) and their prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) (<25, 25-29 and ≥30). In multivariable modelling, the main outcome measures were preterm delivery (<28 weeks, 28-31weeks and 32-36 weeks), low Apgar scores at 5 min, small-for-gestational age (SGA), foetal death, asphyxia, Caesarean section, induction, preeclampsia, blood transfusion, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), shoulder dystocia, and large for gestational age (LGA). Results: Maternal overweight and obesity along with advanced maternal age (AMA) significantly increased the risks of preterm delivery, preeclampsia, foetal death, LGA and Caesarean as compared to women of average weight aged <35 years. When comparing overweight and obese women aged ≥35 years to normal weight women * Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 503816972. E-mail address: reeta.lampinen@uef.fi (R. Lamminpää). of the same age, the rates of preeclampsia, preterm delivery <28 weeks, LGA and low Apgar score were significantly increased. When observing overweight and obese women <35 years as a reference group, the risks of preterm delivery and foetal death were significantly increased. Conclusions: The risks were increased by maternal age ≥ 35 years and both obesity and overweight. The combined effect of AMA and either overweight or obesity appeared to be a high risk state particularly for stillbirth and preterm delivery.

PurposeThe number of overweight and obese women is increasing in the obstetric population. The aim of this study was to review studies that reported results related to the efficacy of dietary interventions on gestational weight gain (GWG) or the prevention of gestational diabetes (GDM) in overweight and obese women.MethodsThe search was performed using the CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus and Medic electronic databases and limited to the years between 2000 and March 2016. This systematic review includes 15 research articles of which 12 were randomized controlled trials, and three were controlled trials. Three main categories emerged as follows: (1) the types of interventions, (2) the contents of the interventions and (3) the efficacy of the intervention on GWG and the prevention of GDM. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the AHRQ Methods Reference Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews.ResultsOf the selected 15 studies, eight included a specified diet with limited amounts of nutrients or energy, and the others included a dietary component along with other components. Ten studies reported significant differences in the measured outcomes regarding GWG or the prevention of GDM between the intervention and the control groups.ConclusionsThis review confirms the variability in the strategies used to deliver dietary interventions in studies aiming to limit GWG and prevent GDM in overweight and obese women. Inconsistency in the provider as well as the content of the dietary interventions leaves the difficulty of summarizing the components of effective dietary interventions.

GDM at advanced age is a high risk state and, more specifically, the risk caused by age and GDM appear to be increasing in preeclampsia.

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