Detection of foetal anomaly in advanced maternal age

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of foetal anomaly diagnosed during a detailed ultrasonography amongst patients of advanced maternal age (AMA) and to identify the related anomalies in these age groups.

METHOD: A retrospective observational study amongst AMA mothers was done in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, a Malaysian teaching hospital. The data over a period of three years (January 2013 - December 2016) obtained from the Maternal Foetal Medicine clinic registry was analysed. AMA mothers with singleton pregnancy presenting for foetal structural anomaly scan was included. They were later subdivided into 2 groups (35-39 years and ≥ 40 years). The logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association of the chromosomal anomalies and the age groups.

RESULTS: In all 486 patients were recruited and 84 patients were identified with foetal anomaly (17.3%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of foetal anomalies or significant association with a specific structural foetal anomaly identified (p>0.05). However, the number of followups for these patients are significantly higher (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of structural foetal anomalies identified in detailed ultrasonography was low in AMA mothers. Hence, referral criteria for detailed anomaly ultrasonography need to be re-looked.