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Effect of maternal age on neonatal outcomes in very low birth weight singleton infants: a population-based study

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 424–429 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Little is known on the impact of maternal age (MA) on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants’ outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that at both ends of MA there are increased adverse neonatal outcomes in VLBW infants.

Methods

We used the Israel National Neonatal Network VLBW (≤1500 g) database. Maternal age was stratified as: <20, 20–24, 25–34 (reference group), 35–39 and ≥40 years. Statistical analyses were univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

After adjustment, the infant outcomes of older mothers were similar to those of the reference group for mortality, RDS, severe ROP, NEC and sepsis. Mothers < 20 and 20–24 years old had higher odds of IVH grades 3-4 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09–1.93 and OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10–1.45, respectively), and BPD (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.13–2.13 and OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.22–1.62, respectively). There were higher odds for PVL in infants of <20 year-old mothers (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.26–2.65) and in infants of 35–39 year-old mothers (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.69). Poor composite outcomes were significantly higher in the youngest maternal age categories (<20-year-old mothers (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.28–2.08), and 20–24-year-old (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15–1.43).

Conclusions

Neonatal outcomes differ in relation to maternal age among very low birth weight newborns, with adverse outcomes more predominant in infants of younger mothers.

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Funding

Funding

The Israel National very low birth weight infant database is supported partially by the Israel Center for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Yair Kasirer, Alona Bin Nun.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, the Shaare Zedek Medical center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Yair Kasirer, Alona Bin Nun & Francis B. Mimouni

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Yair Kasirer & Alona Bin Nun

  3. Department of Neonatology, Laniado Hospital, Netanya, Israel

    Yoram A. Bental

  4. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Yoram A. Bental

  5. Women and Children’s Health Research Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

    Brian Reichman, Inna Zaslavsky-Paltiel & Liat Lerner-Geva

  6. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Brian Reichman, Liat Lerner-Geva & Francis B. Mimouni

Authors
  1. Yair Kasirer
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Consortia

Israel Neonatal Network

  • Yair Kasirer
  •  & Brian Reichman

Contributions

YK and FBM: contributed substantially to the conception and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting the article and approved the final version of the article. YAB: contributed substantially to the conception and design of the study, interpretation of the data, drafted the initial manuscript, and could not approve the final manuscript as submitted because of death from disease. BR: contributed substantially to the conception and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting the article and has approved the final version of the article. Inna Zaslavsky-Paltiel & Alona Bin Nun: contributed substantially to the design of the study, analysis and interpretation of the data, revision of the article for important intellectual content and has approved the final version of the article. Liat Lerner-Geva: contributed substantially to the data acquisition, interpretation of the data, and revision of the article for important intellectual content and has approved the final version of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yair Kasirer.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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A list of members and their affiliations appears in the Supplementary Information.

A complete list of the Israel Neonatal network contributing centers is presented in the appendix.

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Kasirer, Y., Bin Nun, A., Bental, Y.A. et al. Effect of maternal age on neonatal outcomes in very low birth weight singleton infants: a population-based study. J Perinatol 43, 424–429 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01620-9

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