Neonatal Outcomes in Twin Pregnancies Delivered Moderately Preterm, Late Preterm, and Term

ABSTRACT

We compared neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies following moderately preterm birth (MPTB), late preterm birth (LPTB), and term birth. A secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of multiple gestations was conducted. MPTB was defined as delivery between 32⁰/₇ and 33⁶/₇ weeks and LPTB between 34⁰/₇ and 36⁶/₇ weeks. Primary outcome was a neonatal outcome composite consisting of one or more of the following: neonatal death, respiratory distress syndrome, early onset culture-proven sepsis, stage 2 or 3 necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, pneumonia, or severe retinopathy of prematurity. Among 552 twin pregnancies, the MPTB rate was 14.5%, LPTB 49.8%, and term birth rate 35.7%. The rate of the primary outcome was different between groups: 30.0% for MPTB, 12.8% for LPTB, 0.5% for term birth (p < 0.001). Compared with term neonates, the primary neonatal outcome composite was increased following MPTB (relative risk [RR] 58.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.3 to 1693.0) and LPTB (RR 24.9; 95% CI 4.8 to 732.2). Twin pregnancies born moderately and late preterm encounter higher rates of neonatal morbidities compared with twins born at term.

KEYWORDS

Twin pregnancy - late preterm birth - neonatal morbidities

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