Relationship between parental age and severity of orofacial clefts

OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the relationship between paternal age, maternal age, and both on the severity of orofacial clefts. DESIGN This was a retrospective study of cases which were subjects clinically diagnosed with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Data was obtained from the AFRICRAN project database on Nigerian non-syndromic orofacial cleft cases. SETTING The samples for cases in this study were obtained at the Cleft clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. OUTCOME Primary outcome measure is severity of orofacial clefts and secondary outcome measure is to evaluate the effect of parental age in determining the incidence of left or right sided orofacial clefts. RESULTS There is no statistical significant association between type of CL ± P and parental age in young fathers (p=0.93). When old fathers are considered, percentage of complete (more severe) CL ± P cases increases especially in old mothers and this was statistically significant (p=0.036). In old fathers, the risk of CL ± P is increased (OR: 2.66, CI: 1.04-6.80) and also there is increased risk of developing right sided CL ± P (OR: 1.61, CI: 1.0-2.59). There is reduced risk of isolated cleft palate in young fathers (OR: 0.36, CI: 0.07-1.71) but the risk increases when considering complete types (more severe) of isolated cleft palates (OR: 1.63, CI: 0.71-3.7) CONCLUSION The study shows a higher risk of CL ± P is associated with increase father’s age.