The effect of advanced paternal age on the lifespan of male offspring in an ancient Chinese genealogical data set

Abstract

BackgroundAdvanced paternal age has been reported to be associated with a variety of short-term outcomes in offspring, but long-term effects are rarely examined. The present study evaluated the impact of advanced paternal age on offspring's longevity. MethodsWe studied the effect of paternal reproductive age on the lifespan of male offspring using a Chinese genealogy data set that spans 226 years of the Qing Dynasty (1683–1909). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses of 1274 men with survival data were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of advanced parental age at reproduction. We also evaluated whether the lifespan of brothers differed when they were born to the same parents at different ages. ResultsIn models adjusted for maternal age, advanced paternal age was negatively associated with the lifespan of male offspring. Individuals born to fathers aged >40 years had a 32 % higher HR of a lifespan shorter than those born to fathers aged 25–29 years (adjusted HR 1.320, 95 % CI: 1.066–1.634). The adjusted HR for offspring born to fathers aged 35–39 years was 1.232 (95 % CI: 1.013–1.500). Older brothers born to fathers aged 20–34 years had a significantly lower risk of a reduced lifespan compared with their younger brothers with fathers aged ≥35 years at reproduction (P < 0.01). ConclusionAdvanced paternal age at reproduction is a negative factor for male offspring's life expectancy. With the sustained increase in paternal age over the past generation, further investigation is warranted into the impact on birth outcomes and public health.