The association between young maternal age and pregnancy outcome

Objective: We aimed to determine the association between young maternal age at delivery with adverse pregnancy outcome in a single, tertiary, university-affiliated medical center. Methods: A retrospective, cohort, matched control study using the first percentile distribution of maternal age at delivery (21 years old, n=461) as the study group, and four control groups by maternal age matched by parity in a 2:1 ratio (22-25, 26-30, 31-35 and 36-40 years; n=922 each). Results: Women aged ≤21 years were found to have lower rates of chronic hypertension [compared with women aged 36-40 years old (0.0% versus 1.3%, p<0.05)], lower rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (1.3% versus 3.7%, p=0.007), higher rates of perineal lacerations [compared with women aged 31-35 and 36-40 years old, 41% versus 31.8% and 31.1%, respectively, p<0.01)], higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage (4.6% versus 1.5%, p<0.0001) and higher rates of low 5-min Apgar score (2.2% versus 0.8%, p=0.004). No significant differences were found in terms gestational age at delivery, birth weight, fetal sex, intrapartum or antepartum mortality. Conclusion: Young maternal age at delivery is associated with increased risk of short-term complications after delivery.