Association Between Paternal Age and Birth Weight in Preterm and Full-Term Birth: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

PurposeWhile it is well documented that maternal adverse exposures contribute to a series defects on offspring health according to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, paternal evidence is still insufficient. Advanced paternal age is associated with multiple metabolism and psychiatric disorders. Birth weight is the most direct marker to evaluate fetal growth. Therefore, we designed this study to explore the association between paternal age and birth weight among infants born at term and preterm (<37 weeks gestation).MethodsA large retrospective study was conducted using population-based hospital data from January 2015 to December 2019 that included 69,964 cases of singleton infant births with complete paternal age data. The primary outcome was infant birth weight stratified by sex and gestational age including small for gestational age (SGA, 10th percentile) and large for gestational age (LGA, 90th percentile). Birth weight percentiles by gestational age were based on those published in the INTERGROWTH-21st neonatal weight-for gestational-age standard. Logistic regression analysis and linear regression model were used to estimate the association between paternal age and infant birth weight.ResultsAdvanced paternal age was associated with a higher risk for a preterm birth [35–44 years: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95%CI (1.03 to 1.24); >44 years: OR = 1.36, 95%CI (1.09 to 1.70)]. Paternal age exerted an opposite effect on birth weight with an increased risk of SGA among preterm infants (35–44years: OR = 1.85, 95%CI (1.18 to 2.89) and a decreased risk among term infant (35–44years: OR = 0.81, 95%CI (0.68 to 0.98); >44 years: OR = 0.50, 95%CI (0.26 to 0.94). U-shaped associations were found in that LGA risk among term infants was higher in both younger (<25 years) (OR = 1.32; 95%CI, 1.07 to 1.62) and older (35–44 years) (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.14) fathers in comparison to those who were 25 to 34 years old at the time of delivery.ConclusionsOur study found advanced paternal age increased the risk of SGA among preterm infants and for LGA among term infants. These findings likely reflect a pathophysiology etiology and have important preconception care implications and suggest the need for antenatal monitoring.

Advanced parental age is an independent risk factor for term low birth weight and macrosomia

“…[25] Although some previous studies have shown an association between paternal age and LBW, [26,27] few studies investigated the association between paternal age and macrosomia. [28,29] A recent study demonstrated that advanced paternal age increased the risk of LBW among preterm infants and for macrosomia among term infants, which is consistent with the results of this study. [28] There are several limitations to this study.…”

“…[ 28 , 29 ] A recent study demonstrated that advanced paternal age increased the risk of LBW among preterm infants and for macrosomia among term infants, which is consistent with the results of this study. [ 28 ]…”

Umbilical Cord Blood Leptin and IL-6 in the Presence of Maternal Diabetes or Chorioamnionitis

“…This is the first study we are aware of that demonstrates an association between cord blood IL-6 and leptin in appropriate for gestational age infants without sepsis. Birth weight remains the most widely available predictor of the long-term complications of potentially adverse prenatal exposures (38). In the presence of maternal obesity and diabetes, increased birth weight could be a consequence of the trophic effects of hormones, including insulin and leptin, as well as a manifestation of either genetic predisposition or enhanced nutrient availability.…”

Późne rodzicielstwo i rozród wspomagany: analiza ryzyka wystąpienia chorób przewlekłych u potomstwa

“…Mimo że badania rozwoju płodu i zdrowia potomstwa w tym zakresie są ograniczone, głównie z powodu trudności w odizolowaniu wpływu wieku ojca od wpływu wieku matki, wiadomo że zaawansowany wiek ojca wiąże się ze wzrostem ryzyka poronień [40], urodzeniem martwego dziecka, stanem przedrzucawkowym [41], chorobami wrodzonymi, autyzmem i innymi zaburzeniami psychicznymi [2,42]. Niektórzy autorzy dostrzegają również silną korelację między opóźnionym ojcostwem a opóźnionym rozwojem płodu i małą masą urodzeniową dziecka [39,43,44]. Oba czynniki zwiększają ryzyko chorób metabolicznych dziecka.…”

“…Trudno jest jednak jednoznacznie wykazać wpływ fragmentacji DNA i zaawansowanego wieku ojca na zaburzenia genetyczne dzieci. Zaawansowany wiek ojca wiąże się też ze zwiększonym ryzykiem poronień, przedwczesnym porodem i małą masą urodzeniową dziecka [43,44]. Z kolei, niska masa urodzeniowa zwiększa ryzyko chorób sercowo-naczyniowych [67].…”