Maternal age and oral clefts: a reappraisal.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that increased maternal age is associated with a higher risk of having a child with oral clefts.


METHODS
A meta-analysis of 8 population-based studies with information regarding live birth and oral clefts was performed.


RESULTS
No association between increased maternal age and isolated oral clefts was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral clefts occurrence is not correlated with increasing maternal age, and inclusion of data mixing isolated and syndromic cases can confound the analysis and must be avoided.
Vieira
Alexandre R
AR
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1083, USA.
Orioli
Iêxeda M
IM
Murray
Jeffrey C
JC
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology