Meta-analysis: the association between parent's age in pregnancy and risk for diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder in children

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with significant burden to individuals and to society, leading to a higher rate of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) than rheumatic fever, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis combined in Brazil. Despite its importance as a public health problem, BD usually presents a significant delay until diagnosis, averaging between 5 to 10years after the onset of symptoms. In this context, it is of utmost importance to identify risk factors that increase the clinician's suspicion for the presence of BD. The age of parents in pregnancy has emerged as a significant risk factor for various mental disorders, but no study has yet been conducted meta-analyzing the individual reports in the literature. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies reporting data on parental age at pregnancy and diagnosis of BD in the offspring.