Priscilla Ming Yi Lee PhD , Xin Xu MD , Jiang Bo Du PhD , Jiong Li PhD , Paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use disorder with the offspring’s mortality risk, American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2024), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.02.017
Abstract
Introduction
Paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use may contribute to early pregnancy loss. However, the link between paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use disorder(AUD) and long-term offspring’s mortality risk remains unclear. This study examined the association of paternal pre-conceptional AUD and recency of diagnosis with offspring’s mortality, and further stratified the mortality after the first year of birth by age.
Methods
This is a nationwide cohort study with 1973174 Danish births(1980-2012), with follow-up from birth until death, emigration, or 31-December 2016. Paternal conceptional AUD was identified from Danish National Patient Register and Prescription Registry, categorizing recency of diagnosis into <1 year, 1-<4 years, 4-<8 years, ≥8 years. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) for offspring mortality risk. All data were analyzed in 2023.
Results
Paternal pre-conceptional AUD was associated with a 28% increased mortality after one year of birth(95%CI=1.09-1.51), 23% increased infant mortality(95%CI=1.07-1.42), and 23% increased odds of stillbirth(95%CI=1.06-1.43). Paternal AUD diagnosed <1 year before conception was associated with an 85%-111% increased risk of mortality in offspring aged 15-40 years. More recent AUD diagnosis(i.e.,one year before conception) had a higher risks of death from infectious and circulatory diseases in offpring.
Conclusions
Offspring of fathers with AUD before conception had higher mortality risk from birth to early adulthood, especially when AUD diagnosis is close to conception. Current awareness regarding paternal pre-conceptional alcohol dependence use is insufficient. Promoting alcohol dependence avoidance, including educating men on the impact of alcohol on child health during pre-pregnancy examination may help reduce or prevent long-term offspring mortality.