Relationship between maternal age and anogenital distance in patients with primary hypospadias: A case-control study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between maternal age and anogenital distance (AGD) in patients with hypospadias. Patients, subjects and methods: A total of 82 participants were divided into two groups, Group 1 included 52 male children with different types of primary hypospadias and Group 2 included 30 normal controls. In both groups, child age and weight, maternal age, and AGD were recorded. In Group 1, the Glans-Urethral Meatus-Shaft score was used to categorise the patients into mild (score 3–6), moderate (score 7–9) and severe (score 10–12) hypospadias. Results: Both groups were similar for maternal age, child age and child weight (P = 0.308, P = 0.283 and P = 0.664, respectively). The mean (SD) AGD was 4.64 (1.23) and 5.33 (1.01) cm for groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.011). Patients in Group 1 were subdivided regarding severity of hypospadias into mild (40.4%), moderate (38.5%) and severe (21.1%). There was a significant relationship between older maternal age and short AGD in both groups (P < 0.001 for Group 1 and P = 0.001 for Group 2). In Group 1, there was a significant correlation between both short AGD and older maternal age, and severe hypospadias (both P < 0.001). Maternal age of ≥34 years significantly predicted a severe hypospadias score (10–12) (sensitivity 100% and specificity 68.3%). Conclusion: Older maternal age is associated with a shorter AGD in patients with hypospadias and controls. Maternal age of ≥34 years is significantly correlated with patients with severe hypospadias.