The Effects of Parent Ages on Birth Defects

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Delayed childbearing in the US is a growing demographic trend.
• This trend is linked to adverse neonatal outcomes, posing a public health concern.
• Previous research indicates a connection between parental age and birth defect risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between parental age and the risk of birth defects.
• To control for confounding factors between maternal and paternal age.
• To explore the mediating role of chromosomal disorders, including Down syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Utilized US Natality data from 2014-2018 (approx. 15 million births).
• Employed Bayesian modeling to estimate risks associated with parental age.
• Adjusted for the age of the other parent and chromosomal disorder status.

Main Results:

• Advanced maternal age correlated with higher risks of hypospadias and cyanotic congenital heart disease.
• Increased maternal and paternal ages were linked to a reduced risk of gastroschisis.
• Maternal age exhibited a U-shaped risk for limb reduction defects and cleft lip, with lowest risks around age 35.

Conclusions:

• Older maternal age is associated with increased prevalence of specific birth defects (hypospadias, cyanotic congenital heart disease) and decreased prevalence of gastroschisis.
• Both younger and older maternal ages were linked to limb reduction defects and cleft lip.
• Advanced paternal age did not increase overall birth defect prevalence but was associated with lower gastroschisis rates.