ArticleHuman reproduction open2025
Paternal age and neonatal outcomes: a population-based cohort study.
Article in Human reproduction open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Large-scale whole-genome sequencing reveals the landscape and health implications of de novo mutations.Nature medicine · 2026Article
- Association between parental age at childbirth and timing of puberty in children: an 8-year cohort study.Biology of sex differences · 2026Article
- Age-Associated Metabolomic Changes in Human Spermatozoa.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Reply: Paternal age and neonatal health: unraveling epigenetic pathways.Human reproduction open · 2025Article
- Paternal age and neonatal health: unraveling epigenetic pathways.Human reproduction open · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
study questionIs paternal age associated with neonatal outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER: Paternal age is independently associated with preterm birth (PTB) and caesarean section. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Advanced maternal age has long been recognized as a major risk factor for adverse neonatal outcomes. However, the association between paternal age and neonatal outcomes are not well established, yet it is biologically plausible that an increasing number of genetic and epigenetic sperm abnormalities in older males may contribute to adverse neonatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This population-based cohort study was based on the National Free Preconception Checkups Project between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2019 in Guangdong Province, China. Paternal age at the maternal last menstrual period was measured. The main outcomes included caesarean section, PTB, small for gestational age (SGA) and perinatal infant death (PID). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING
methodsA total of 783 988 mother-neonate-father trios were included in this study. A modified Poisson regression model was employed to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% CI and logistic regression models were used to analyse the relative importance of predictors. We used restricted cubic splines to flexibly model the non-linear dose-response association between paternal age and neonatal outcomes. We also assessed additive interactions between paternal and maternal age on neonatal outcomes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Neonates born to fathers aged 35-44 years had higher risks of caesarean section (RR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.06-1.09) and PTB (RR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.10-1.19) compared with neonates of fathers aged 25-34 years, after adjustment for confounders. The increased risks of PTB associated with paternal age appeared to be 'dose' dependent, with a J-shaped association curve ( LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: As with all observational studies, residual confounding could not be ruled out. Only couples who planned to conceive were included. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE
findingsIn this population-based cohort study, paternal age was independently associated with caesarean section and PTB. These findings may be clinically useful in preconception counselling on parental age-related pregnancy risks. Our findings emphasize the need to further investigate the public health implications of increasing paternal age. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This study was supported by the Guangdong Province Medical Research Funding (No. B2023416). No competing interests are reported. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.
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