Relationship of age and the body mass index to selected hypertensive complications in pregnancy

Objectives: Older maternal age is considered to be a risk factor for a number of pregnancy-associated pathologies. Average weight increases with age. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of maternal age on selected disorders of pregnancy independently from the influence of maternal weight. Methods: The retrospective study included 910 women. The following parameters were evaluated: age, p-BMI (body mass index before pregnancy), hypertension, severe hypertension, pre-eclampsia, proteinuria, severe proteinuria, thromboembolic diseases, pregnancy duration and fetal growth restriction. Results: The correlation between the p-BMI and age and BMI was confirmed (P < 0.001). After filtering away the mutual influence of age and p-BMI applying logistic regression we proved a statistically significant effect of p-BMI on the incidence of hypertension, severe hypertension, proteinuria and pre-eclampsia (P < 0.001). The maternal age (cleared of the p-BMI) effects only hypertension. Conclusions: Age alone proved to be a risk factor for severe hypertension or severe hypertension of the pregnant subjects. Increased risk for proteinuria, hypertension and pre-eclampsia is directly associated with p-BMI of the pregnant women, and only indirectly with their age. (C) 2001 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.