Korean J Perinatol.  2005 Sep;16(3):216-221.

Association between Paternal Age and Preterm Birth Based on Birth Certificate Data

• Park SH
• Ku SY
• Choi YS
• Kim DW
• Moon SY
• Kim SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether paternal age is associated with the risk of preterm birth.
METHODS
Data were obtained from the 2003 birth certificates registry of 214,413 singleton infants born to women aged 25~29 years in Korea (Korea National Statistical Office). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from multivariate logistic regression analyses to investigate the associations between paternal age and preterm delivery.
RESULTS
The incidence of preterm birth showed a significant difference among the different paternal age groups (p<0.01). 'U-shaped' distribution of preterm birth risk was observed in terms of paternal age, with that of 30~34 years group being the lowest. Compared with 30~34 years group, the odds ratios for preterm birth were 1.14 for <24 years (p>0.05), 1.08 for age 25~29 years (p<0.01), 1.20 for age 35~39 years (p<0.01), and 1.50 for > or =40 years (p<0.01) groups.
CONCLUSION
Paternal age is a risk factor for preterm birth and advanced paternal age increases the risk of preterm birth.

Keyword

Preterm birth; Birth certificate data; Paternal age; Risk factor

MeSH Terms

Birth Certificates*
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Korea
Logistic Models
Odds Ratio
Parturition*
Paternal Age*
Premature Birth*
Risk Factors