Approximately 8.5 million records of singleton births in Brazilian hospitals in the period 2004鈥?009 were investigated. Odds ratios were estimated for preterm and post鈥恡erm births, for low Apgar scores at 1 minute and at 5 minutes, for asphyxia, for low birth weight, and for macrosomia.
For pregnant women ≥ 41, increased risks were identified for preterm births, for post鈥恡erm births (except for primiparous women with schooling ≥ 12 years), and for low birth weight. When comparing older vs. younger women, higher educational levels ensure similar risks of low Apgar score at 1 minute (for primiparous mothers and term births), of low Apgar score at 5 minutes (for term births), of macrosomia (for non鈥恜rimiparous women), and of asphyxia.
As a rule, older mothers are at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, which, however, may be mitigated or eliminated, depending on gestational age, parity, and, especially, on the education level of the pregnant woman.