The Effect of Maternal Age and Duration of Labor on Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal age and duration of labor on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Methods From 2016 to 2018, 9,241 parturients (mean age = 29.15 ± 3.41) were included and divided into the age  30 years (n = 2699). According to the total duration of labor, the parturients who did not undergo cesarean section (CS) were subgrouped into the < 420 minutes group (n = 4065) and the ≥ 420 minutes group (n = 4094). The perinatal and neonatal outcomes were compared among groups. Results Higher age groups were more likely to switch to emergency cesarean section (CS) (P < 0.001). The incidence of postpartum fever was significantly higher in age < 28 and 28–30 groups (P = 0.035). The age 28–30 group was more likely to have abnormal fetal heart rate (P = 0.017). The ≥ 420 minutes group had higher rate of side cut/forceps during delivery, more bleeding volume, higher rate of using oxytocin, postpartum fever, abnormal fetal heart rate, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) as compared with the < 420 minutes group (all P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that as age increased, the rates of switch to emergency CS and abnormal fetal heart rate also increased, while parturients with longer total duration of labor had higher risk of postpartum fever and MSAF (all P < 0.01). Conclusion Maternal age was an independent factor associated with switch to emergency CS and abnormal fetal heart rate, while total duration of labor was an independent factor associated with postpartum fever and MSAF.