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Parental Risk Factors and Child Birth Data in a Matched Year and Sex Group Cleft Population: A Case-Control Study
Inês Francisco1, Francisco Caramelo2, Maria Helena Fernandes3,4
1Institute of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.
Insights
Maternal age and body mass index influence orofacial cleft (OC) risk. Higher maternal BMI increases OC risk, while increased maternal age decreases it. OC infants are at higher risk for lower birth weight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Orofacial cleft (OC) etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors.
- Limited knowledge exists on neonatal characteristics associated with orofacial clefts.
- Parental factors like age and maternal body mass index (BMI) are potential contributors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of parental age and maternal BMI on the risk of orofacial cleft (OC) occurrence.
- To analyze neonatal birth data, including birth weight, length, and head circumference, in relation to OC.
- To identify specific risk factors and neonatal characteristics associated with orofacial clefts.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 266 individuals (133 OC, 133 controls) born between 1995-2015.
- Logistic regression models were employed to assess the influence of independent variables.
- ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparative analysis of OC phenotypes and birth data.
Main Results:
- Increased maternal BMI (odds ratio = 1.14) significantly elevated the risk of having an OC child.
- Each additional year of maternal age decreased the probability of an OC child (odds ratio = 0.903).
- Lower birth weight was associated with OC, but length and head circumference showed no significant relation.
Conclusions:
- Maternal BMI and maternal age are statistically significant factors associated with orofacial cleft risk.
- Infants with orofacial clefts exhibit a higher likelihood of lower birth weight.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex etiology of orofacial clefts.
Abstract:
(1) Background: The etiology of orofacial cleft (OC) is not completely known but several genetic and environmental risk factors have been identified. Moreover, a knowledge gap still persists regarding neonatal characteristics. This study evaluated the effect of parental age and mothers' body mass index on the risk of having an OC child, in a matched year and sex group (cleft/healthy control). Additionally, birth data were analyzed between groups. (2) Methods: 266 individuals born between 1995 to 2015 were evaluated: 133 OC individuals (85 males/48 females) and 133 control (85 males/48 females). A logistic model was used for the independent variables. ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparison between the OC phenotypes. (3) Results: Regarding statistically significant parental related factors, the probability of having a cleft child decreases for each maternal year increase (odds ratio = 0.903) and increases for each body mass index unit (kg/m2) increase (odds ratio = 1.14). On the child data birth, for each mass unit (kg) increase, the probability of having a cleft child decrease (odds ratio = 0.435). (4) Conclusions: In this study, only maternal body mass index and maternal age found statistical differences in the risk of having a cleft child. In the children's initial data, the cleft group found a higher risk of having a lower birth weight but no relation was found regarding length and head circumference.
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