To compare the longitudinal maternal hemodynamic changes throughout gestation between different age groups.
This was a prospective, longitudinal study assessing maternal hemodynamics by bioreactance technique at 11 -13 , 19 -24 , 30 -34 and 35 -37 weeks’ gestation. Women were divided into four groups according to maternal age at the first visit at 11 -13 weeks: Group 1 <25 years (n=254); group 2, 25-30 years (n=442), group 3, 30.1-34.9 years (n=618) and group 4, ≥35 years (n=475). A multilevel linear mixed-effects model was performed to compare the repeated measures of hemodynamic variables correcting for demographics, medical and obstetric history, pregnancy complications, maternal age and time.
Younger women (group 1) had the highest cardiac output (CO) and lowest peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) and older women (group 4) had the lowest CO and highest PVR throughout pregnancy. The higher CO seen in younger women, was achieved through an increase in heart rate alone and not with a concomitant rise in stroke volume. Although the youngest age group demonstrated an apparently more favourable hemodynamic profile, it had the highest incidence of SGA neonates. There was no significant difference between the groups in incidence of preeclampsia.
Age-specific differences in maternal hemodynamic adaptation do not explain the differences in birth of SGA neonates between age groups. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Author