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Paternal age and preterm birth.

Authors :
Zhu JL
Madsen KM
Vestergaard M
Basso O
Olsen J
Source :
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) [Epidemiology] 2005 Mar; Vol. 16 (2), pp. 259-62.
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence that advanced paternal age can be a reproductive hazard.<br />Methods: We studied couples and their first children using nationwide registers in Denmark between 1980 and 1996. We restricted the analysis to mother's age 20-29 years. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) of preterm (< 37 weeks gestation) and very preterm birth (< 32 weeks) as a function of paternal age using logistic regression to adjust for potential confounding variables.<br />Results: The risk of preterm birth increased with paternal age, almost entirely resulting from an association for very preterm birth. Compared with fathers age 20-24 years, ORs for very preterm birth were 1.3 (age 25-29), 1.4 (age 35-39), 1.7 (age 40-44), 1.6 (age 45-49), and 2.1 (age 50+) (test for trend: P = 0.01).<br />Conclusions: Risk of very preterm birth increases among older fathers, perhaps as a result of a paternal placental effect.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1044-3983
Volume :
16
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
15703543
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ede.0000152526.63279.da