The relationship between maternal age, body mass index, and the rate of preterm birth

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of maternal age and maternal body mass index of early pregnancy on the risk of preterm delivery.

Material and Methods: The study included 2.1 million liveborn single newborns with documented data at perinatal surveys. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistics program.

Results: The risk of preterm births increased in obese women and in women with advanced age.

Conclusion: Strategies should be developed to reduce preconceptional body mass index, and guidelines are required to help advise women who postponed childbearing.