Differences in Mortality and Morbidity according to Birth Order in Preterm Twins Born by Cesarean Section / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Birth rate of preterm twins has gradually increased recently, and preterm twins have higher morbidity and higher mortality compared with term twins. Hence, we carried out the study to find out whether there were differences in mortality and morbidity according to birth order. METHODS: We examined the medical records of premature babies, who were born under 37 weeks of gestational age from January, 2004 to December, 2009. Among 226 twins (113 pairs),we compared the following parameters between the first-born twins and the second-born twins birth weight, Apgar score at 1 & 5 minutes, days of ventilator use, days of total oxygenation use, hemoglobin after birth, maximum total bilirubin within 4 weeks, mortality, and morbidities including transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), brain white matter disease (WMD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and sepsis. RESULTS: There were no difference between birth weight, Apgar score at 1 & 5 minute, duration of ventilator use, duration of total oxygenation use, hemoglobin after the birth, maximum total bilirubin and morbidities. Moreover, there were no statistical differences in mortality between the first twin and the second (3.5% vs. 4.4%, P=0.734). Subdivided into preterm twins less than 32 weeks of gestational age, mortalities were 13.3% vs. 16.7% (P=0.718). There were no differences in morbidity and other factors between two groups. CONCLUSION: According to our study, there were no notable statistical differences in mortality and morbidity based on birth order of preterm twins. However, larger studies are necessary.