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Ministry of Health
TABLE 19
PERINATAL COMPLICATIONS IN LIVE BIRTHS BY AGE OF MOTHER
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1993-1997 AND 1998

  1998
  1993 - 1997 Age of Mother (in Years)  
Perinatal Complications ICD9 Code(s) Total Percent <20 20-29 30-39 40+ N.S. Total Percent
Maternal conditions not related to pregnancy 760 24 0.0 - 1 4 1 - 6 0.0
Complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery 761, 763(+) 8,674 9.9 87 918 1,017 54 - 2,076 11.8
Complications of placenta, cord and membranes 762 2,321 2.6 30 260 293 20 - 603 3.4
Slow fetal growth/malnutrition/ small for dates 764 2,887 3.3 36 267 210 12 - 525 3.0
Short gestation 765 13,679 15.6 148 1,143 1,219 97 - 2,607 14.8
Long gestation and high birth weight 766(++) 8,402 9.6 68 806 712 40 - 1,626 9.2
Birth trauma 767 490 0.6 6 36 36 - - 78 0.4
Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia 768 49,713 56.5 535 4,747 4,235 248 - 9,765 55.3
Respiratory conditions of fetus and newborn 769-770 1,029 1.2 19 140 99 4 - 262 1.5
Infections specific to the perinatal period 771 110 0.1 2 6 7 - - 15 0.1
Fetal and neonatal hemorrhage 772 120 0.1 2 8 18 - - 28 0.2
Perinatal jaundice/other hematological disorders 773-774, 776 76 0.1 - 3 5 - - 8 0.0
Perinatal endocrine and metabolic disturbances 775 31 0.0 - 4 2 - - 6 0.0
Perinatal digestive system disorders 777 3 0.0 - - 1 - - 1 0.0
Integument and temperature regulation conditions 778 151 0.2 2 6 4 - - 12 0.1
Other and ill-defined perinatal conditions 779 200 0.2 2 24 13 - - 39 0.2
Total perinatal conditions 760-779 87,910 - 937 8,369 7,875 476 - 17,657 100.0
Live births with the above - Number 70,045 - 720 6,682 6,192 370 - 13,964  
perinatal complications - Percent(*) 30.5 - 34.3 32.5 32.2 35.7 - 32.5  

Note: Percent based upon perinatal complications. Percent (*) based upon live births for the maternal age group.
(+)Excludes 763.3 which is used only as a flag for vacuum extraction delivery.
(++)Includes only 766.0 (where birth weight >= 4500 grams) and 766.2(where gestational age >41 weeks).
Total perinatal complications based on the first five complication codes, which may include codes other than those shown here.
Total percentage may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
N.S. - Not Stated. Non-residents are excluded.

HIGHLIGHTS TO TABLE 19

  • Perinatal complications were noted in 13,964 births or one in three (32.5%) live births in 1998. These complications were noted in 30.5% of live births in 1993-1997.

  • The proportion of births which had perinatal complications was highest (35.7%) in births to mothers age 40 and above, and lowest (32.2%) in mothers aged 30-39.

  • Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia accounted for more than half (55.3%) of the perinatal complications noted in 1998. Complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery plus short gestation accounted for more than one out of four (26.6%) of the perinatal complications. Long gestation and high birth weight was noted as a perinatal complication in less than one in ten births (9.2%). A similar pattern was observed for the 1993-1997 period.