Infants of older fathers are more likely to be less healthy, study states
| Nov 11, 2018, 07:00 IST
While studies and research for years have proven that women should have children latest by their mid-30s and not after their late 30s and 40s, a new study now states that the age of the father too has an impact on the child and on the pregnancy.
Conducted by researchers from Stanford University in the US, the findings of the study state that children of fathers aged 45 years or more had a 14% higher risk of being premature in addition to low birth weight (less than 2,500gm) compared to those whose fathers were aged 25 to 34 years. They also had a 14% higher risk of being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and 18% greater risk of having seizures, compared to infants with fathers aged 25 to 34 years.
“A significant number of these negative birth outcomes were estimated to be prevented if older fathers had elected to have children before the age of 45 years. The risks associated with advancing paternal age should be included in discussions regarding family planning and reproductive counseling,” the team noted.
Conducted by researchers from Stanford University in the US, the findings of the study state that children of fathers aged 45 years or more had a 14% higher risk of being premature in addition to low birth weight (less than 2,500gm) compared to those whose fathers were aged 25 to 34 years. They also had a 14% higher risk of being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and 18% greater risk of having seizures, compared to infants with fathers aged 25 to 34 years.
“A significant number of these negative birth outcomes were estimated to be prevented if older fathers had elected to have children before the age of 45 years. The risks associated with advancing paternal age should be included in discussions regarding family planning and reproductive counseling,” the team noted.