Paternal Risk Factors for Oral Clefts in Northern Africans, Southeast Asians, and Central Americans

Abstract

While several studies have investigated maternal exposures as risk factors for oral clefts, few have examined paternal factors. We conducted an international multi-centered case–control study to better understand paternal risk exposures for oral clefts (cases = 392 and controls = 234). Participants were recruited from local hospitals and oral cleft repair surgical missions in Vietnam, the Philippines, Honduras, and Morocco. Questionnaires were administered to fathers and mothers separately to elicit risk factor and family history data. Associations between paternal exposures and risk of clefts were assessed using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. A father’s personal/family history of clefts was associated with significantly increased risk (adjusted OR: 4.77; 95% CI: 2.41–9.45). No other significant associations were identified for other suspected risk factors, including education (none/primary school v. university adjusted OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.74–2.24), advanced paternal age (5-year adjusted OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.84–1.16), or pre-pregnancy tobacco use (adjusted OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.67–1.37). Although sample size was limited, significantly decreased risks were observed for fathers with selected occupations. Further research is needed to investigate paternal environmental exposures as cleft risk factors.

A Case-Control Study for Assessing Risk Factors for Congenital Anomalies among Children in Sulaimani City

“…We found when family history adjusted for consanguinity remained significantly associated with the presence of CM in children the aOR 2.23 and the (P 0.007). In accordance with the studies were conducted in Northern Africans, Southeast Asians and Central Americans [19]. Among the maternal characteristics, prematurity (< 37 completed weeks) was a significant risk factor which is similar to studies done in United State and England [20,21].…”

Modifiable Risk Factors of Non-Syndromic Orofacial Clefts: A Systematic Review

“…conducted an international study on paternal factors. They concluded that a father’s personal or family history of CLP was linked to a noticeably higher risk [ 56 ]. In the study of Noorollahian et al a family history of this disease was present in about one-third of the cases [ 57 ].…”

“…Water pollution also proved a significant risk factor. Figueiredo et al reported a higher incidence of OFCs in the offspring of mothers who drew water from a well than in controls who took filtered water or water drawn from public waterworks [ 56 ]. Nevertheless, water disinfection by-products (DBPs), which are formed by the interaction of chemical disinfectants and organic material in the water, are a hazard for OFCs’ occurrence.…”

Poverty and Risk of Cleft Lip and Palate: An Analysis of United States Birth Data

“…Our data further confirmed increasing paternal age as a risk factor for cleft palate only and found no association between maternal age and risk of cleft palate only after adjustment. 37,[54][55][56][57][58][59] Compared with receiving prenatal care in the first trimester, lack of prenatal care or beginning prenatal care in the second or third trimester increased the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate. This may be mediated by the prevention of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and identification of harmful exposures that may disrupt embryonic orofacial development.…”