Association of advanced paternal age with lung function at school age

Epidemiological studies suggest that advanced paternal age impact offspring health, but its impact on respiratory health is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of paternal age with lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in children.

We analyzed data from 1330 single-born children (576 girls, 43.3%; mean age, 6.4 years), who participated in the Longitudinal Investigation of Global Health in Taiwanese Schoolchildren (LIGHTS) cohort and received measurements of lung function and FeNO at 6-year follow-up visits. Covariate-adjusted regression analyses were applied.

Every 5-year increase in paternal age at birth was associated with 0.51% decrease in FEV₁/FVC ratio (95% CI - 0.86 to - 0.15; p = 0.005) and 19.86 mL/s decrease in FEF₇₅ (95% CI: - 34.07 to - 5.65; p = 0.006). Stratified analyses revealed that increasing paternal age at birth was associated with decreasing FEV₁/FVC ratio and FEF₇₅ only among children with prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or not being breastfed. Sensitivity analyses using paternal age as a categorical variable found decreasing FEV₁/FVC ratio and FEF₇₅ in the groups of paternal age 35-39 and ≥ 40 years. There was no association of paternal age at birth with FeNO.

Our findings provide novel evidence linking advanced paternal age at birth with decreasing lung function in children at school age. Children with prenatal exposure to ETS or not being breastfed are more vulnerable to the adverse effect of advanced paternal age on childhood lung function. Further studies are warranted to confirm this novel adverse effect of advanced paternal age.