Association Between Maternal Age Groups and the Incidence of Severe Preeclampsia and Eclampsia.

Abstract

Introduction: Prenatal care is essential for identifying complications such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, which account for 10% of global maternal deaths. In Bolivia, limited information is available, particularly in Cochabamba, where research on prevalence and the influence of maternal age is scarce. This study analyzes the association between age groups and these complications in 2023 prenatal care records. Methodology: This cross-sectional study used secondary data from Bolivia's SNIS (2023) in Cochabamba to analyze the relationship between maternal age and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia. Complete prenatal care records were included, with age classified into four groups. Descriptive analyses and Chi-square tests (p<0.05) were performed. Ethical principles were upheld, with anonymized data reviewed and approved by a local ethics committee. Results: In 2023, Cochabamba recorded 41,541 prenatal care visits: 0.53% were women aged 10-14 years, 12.34% aged 15-19 years, 68.83% aged 20-39 years, and 18.30% aged 40-49 years. Severe preeclampsia affected 0.83% and eclampsia 0.02%. There was no significant association between age and preeclampsia (p=0.1100), but a significant association was found with eclampsia (p=0.0024). Discussion: The findings confirm an incidence of 0.83% for severe preeclampsia and 0.02% for eclampsia in Cochabamba in 2023. While there was no significant association between age and preeclampsia, a significant relationship was found with eclampsia (p<0.05), highlighting higher risks for adolescents and women over 40 years. Strengthening prenatal care, training medical personnel, and addressing social factors are recommended to improve outcomes.