Maternal Telomere Length and Its Influence on Neonatal Parameters: A Potential Tool for Prenatal Screening

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Maternal telomere length (TL) has been proposed as a potential biomarker of biological aging and pregnancy outcomes, yet evidence in Central and Eastern European populations remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal TL and neonatal parameters in a clinically healthy cohort. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including 134 mother-infant pairs at the "Pius Brînzeu" Emergency County Clinical Hospital, Timișoara. All deliveries were performed by cesarean section for maternal indications unrelated to fetal condition. Maternal blood samples were collected at admission, and relative TL was measured by quantitative PCR. Neonatal outcomes included birth weight, length, head circumference, gestational age, and Apgar scores. Results: Longer maternal TL was positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.515, p < 0.001), length (r = 0.559, p < 0.001), head circumference (r = 0.468, p < 0.001), gestational age (r = 0.444, p < 0.001), and Apgar scores at 1 (r = 0.714, p < 0.001) and 5 min (r = 0.684, p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that shorter maternal TL independently predicted suboptimal 1 min Apgar (<8), with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.51-0.91). Conclusions: Maternal TL is strongly associated with neonatal growth and vitality measures, supporting its potential as a simple, non-invasive biomarker for perinatal risk assessment.

Keywords: Apgar score; biological aging; birth weight; fetal development; gestational age; maternal telomere length; neonatal outcomes; perinatal biomarkers; prenatal screening; telomere dynamics.