Women aged 35 years and older face an increased risk of dying from a pregnancy complication, as reported by researchers. The long-standing increased risk for women in this age group remains and it appears true for all major pregnancy-related causes of death. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers found that women in the age group of 35 to 39 were more than twice as likely as those in their 20s to die of a pregnancy-related cause, such as haemorrhage, infection or exacerbation of an existing medical condition. The risk for women age 40 and up was five times that of young women. The causes of death include stroke and complications of pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Those in their 40s, were nearly eight times more likely than women in their 20s to die of high blood pressure complications. The other common causes include haemorrhage, blood clots, and pre-existing medical problems that were aggravated by the pregnancy. The reasons for these age-related risks, is not fully clear. The risks existed regardless of whether older women got early prenatal care or whether they had children before. The question of why relatively older women have a higher death risk even when they get early prenatal care requires more research. Chronic high blood pressure is common among relatively older women, which might contribute to their increased risk of dying from pregnancy-related high blood pressure and stroke. Older women who are thinking about having a child should see their doctors to get a clear picture of their overall health.

Obstetrics & Gynecology, November, 2003