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Paternal factors and low birthweight, preterm, and small for gestational age births: a systematic review

Prakesh S Shah1,

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Departments of Pediatrics and of Health Policy, Management and Evaluations, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pshah@mtsinai.on.ca

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|February 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Paternal factors like extreme age, height, and previous low birthweight (LBW) in fathers are linked to increased risks of LBW in infants. These paternal characteristics significantly influence offspring birth outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • Low birthweight (LBW) and preterm births are significant global health concerns.
  • The influence of paternal factors on offspring birth outcomes is increasingly recognized.
  • Existing research often focuses on maternal factors, necessitating a deeper understanding of paternal contributions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the association between paternal factors and the risks of low birthweight (LBW), preterm, and small-for-gestational-age births.
  • To identify specific paternal characteristics that may impact infant birthweight and gestational age.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review was conducted using Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases.
  • English-language studies were screened, and their quality was assessed using a predefined checklist.
  • Thirty-six studies with low-to-moderate risk of bias were included, examining paternal age, height, weight, birthweight, occupation, education, and alcohol use.

Main Results:

  • Extreme paternal age was associated with a higher risk of LBW.
  • Infants born to taller fathers had approximately 125-150 g higher birthweights compared to those born to shorter fathers.
  • Paternal LBW was linked to lower birthweight in offspring.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal characteristics such as age, height, and prior birthweight are significantly associated with offspring LBW.
  • Potential links between paternal occupational exposures, lower education levels, and LBW require further investigation.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering paternal health and characteristics in perinatal health research and interventions.

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