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Paternal Contribution to Small for Gestational Age Babies: A Multicenter Prospective Study
Author(s) -
McCowan Lesley ME,
North Robyn A.,
Kho Ee Min,
Black Michael A.,
Chan Eliza HY.,
Dekker Gustaaf A.,
Poston Lucilla,
Taylor Rennae S.,
Roberts Claire T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2010.279
Subject(s) - medicine , small for gestational age , odds ratio , confidence interval , pregnancy , confounding , obstetrics , birth weight , obesity , gestational age , prospective cohort study , waist , pediatrics , overweight , body mass index , genetics , biology
Our aims were to investigate whether men who fathered small for gestational age (SGA) infants themselves had lower birthweight, were more likely to be obese, have central adiposity and elevated blood pressure in adult life compared with men who fathered non‐SGA infants. A total of 2,002 couples participating in the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study were enrolled in early pregnancy and pregnancy outcome data collected prospectively. SGA was defined as birthweight <10th customized centile, obesity as BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 , central adiposity as waist circumference >102 cm. Logistic regression was used to compare rates of obesity, and central adiposity between men who fathered SGA infants compared with those with non‐SGA infants and the final model was adjusted for maternal and paternal confounders. The men who fathered an SGA infant (209 (10.4%)) themselves had lower mean birthweight (3,291 (530) g vs. 3,472 (584) g, P < 0.0001), were more likely to be obese (50 (24.8%) vs. 321 (18.3%), adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.05–2.16, adjusted for maternal and paternal factors) and to have central adiposity (52 (25.1%) vs. 341 (19.2%), adjusted OR 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.06–2.20) compared with men who fathered a non‐SGA infant. Elevated paternal blood pressure was not associated with SGA. In conclusion, we report a novel relationship between paternal obesity/central adiposity and birth of an SGA infant, which appears to be independent of maternal factors associated with fetal growth restriction.