Triplets birth weight

[Birth weight and height characteristics of triplets]

. 2003 Mar;50(3):216-24.

[Article in Japanese]

Yoshie Yokoyama  ¹ , Mari Yamashiro, Syuichi Ooki

Affiliations

Affiliation

• ¹ College of Medical Technology, Kyoto University.

• PMID: 12704834

[Article in Japanese]

Yoshie Yokoyama et al. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2003 Mar.

. 2003 Mar;50(3):216-24.

Authors

Yoshie Yokoyama  ¹ , Mari Yamashiro, Syuichi Ooki

Affiliation

• ¹ College of Medical Technology, Kyoto University.

• PMID: 12704834

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the birth weight and height in triplets, and to identify associated factors.

Method: The subjects were 371 sets of triplets (1,113 triplets), who were born after 1986. Data on birth weight, birth height, gender, birth order, mode of delivery, gestational age, maternal weight gain at delivery, and infertility treatment were obtained. Pregravidic body mass index (BMI) was computed to evaluate maternal physique.

Results: Mean triplet birth weight was 1,763.3 +/- 420.6 g and mean birth height was 42.2 +/- 3. 36 cm. Overall, 96% were low birth weight newborn, 24.4% were very low birth weight newborn, and 4.9% had less than 1,000 g weight. The triplet birth weight was significantly associated with gender (male > female), sex combination (opposite-sexed sets > same-sexed sets), mode of delivery (vaginal delivery > caesarean section), and pregravidic body mass index (BMI) (more than 26.0 kg/m2 > less than 19.8 kg/m2). There was a significant correlation coefficient between maternal weight gain at delivery and birth weight. The triplet birth height was significantly associated with gender (male > famale), sex combination (opposite-sexed sets > same-sexed sets), and pregravidic BMI (more than 26.0 kg/m2 > less than 19.8 kg/m2). Moreover, the birth height was associated with maternal weight gain at delivery and infertility treatment.

Conclusion: The birth weight and birth height in triplets are much lower than those for singletons and twins. Triplet birth weight is associated with gender, birth order, pregravidic body mass index, mode of delivery, and maternal weight gain at delivery, taking into account gestational age. Birth height is associated with gender, pregravidic body mass index, and infertility treatment.

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Excess risk of mortality in very low birthweight triplets: a national, population based study

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Original article

Excess risk of mortality in very low birthweight triplets: a national, population based study

1. E S Shinwell1,
2. I Blickstein1,
3. A Lusky2,
4. B Reichman2,
5. In Collaboration With The Israel Neonatal Network

1. ¹Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
2. ²Women and Children Health Research Unit, Gertner Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

1. Correspondence to:
   Dr Shinwell, Department of Neonatology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel;
   eric_s{at}clalit. org.il

Abstract

Background: Neonatal morbidity and mortality differ between singletons, twins, and triplets.

Objective: To evaluate whether plurality is associated with excess risk of neonatal morbidity and poor outcome (death, chronic lung disease, or adverse neurological findings) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants from a national, population based cohort.

Methods: The Israel national VLBW infant database has prospectively collected extensive perinatal and neonatal data on all liveborn VLBW infants since 1995. The study sample (n = 5594) consisted of all singletons (n = 3717) and all complete sets of twins (n = 1394) and triplets (n = 483) born during 1995–1999. To account for differences in case-mix, both univariate and multivariate comparisons that included confounding variables such as antenatal steroid treatment and mode of delivery were performed for each of the outcome variables.

Results: There was a small inverse correlation between gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) and the number of fetuses (singletons: GA 28. 9 (2.6) weeks, BW 1096 (269) g; twins: GA 28.4 (2.3) weeks, BW 1062 (271) g; triplets: GA 28.5 (2.4) weeks, BW 1049 (259) g). Triplets were significantly more likely to have been conceived following fertility treatments, to have received antenatal steroids, and to be delivered by caesarean section. Respiratory distress syndrome was significantly more common in twins and triplets in spite of the increased exposure to antenatal steroids. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using all significant perinatal covariates showed that triplets were at increased risk of death (odds ratio (OR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13 to 2.11), but not of adverse neurological outcome (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.85) or chronic lung disease (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.02).

Conclusion: Despite considerable differences in the incidence of confounding variables between the groups, VLBW triplets are at increased risk of death compared with twins and singletons. In addition, VLBW twins and triplets more often have respiratory distress syndrome but not chronic lung disease or adverse neurological findings.

• triplets
• multiple pregnancy
• preterm infants
• mortality

• VLBW, very low birth weight
• RDS, respiratory distress syndrome

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/fn.88.1.F36

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• triplets
• multiple pregnancy
• preterm infants
• mortality

• VLBW, very low birth weight
• RDS, respiratory distress syndrome

The last decade has seen an explosion in the use of assisted reproductive techniques which has resulted in a considerable increase in multiple births.^1,2 As multiple pregnancies are more often delivered preterm, there has been a corresponding rise in the number of very low birthweight (birth weight ≤ 1500 g; VLBW) infants. ³

Studies have produced conflicting results on the effect of plurality on mortality and on the incidence of major morbidities, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular haemorrhage, chronic lung disease, and others.⁴ However, there is a paucity of large, population based studies comparing morbidity and mortality of singletons, twins, and high multiples. In particular, few studies have focused on the high risk VLBW infants. Since 1995, Israeli neonatologists and perinatologists, together with the Ministry of Health, have collaborated to establish and maintain a detailed database of all liveborn VLBW infants, which provides a unique opportunity to study this high risk population.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in a large population whether plurality is associated with excess risk of morbidity and mortality in VLBW infants.

METHODS

Israel national VLBW infant database

All infants of birth weight 1500 g or less who are born alive in any of the country’s 28 neonatal units are included in the database. Data are prospectively collected on a structured form. These data include parental demographic information, maternal pregnancy history and antenatal care, details of the delivery, the infant’s status at birth, diagnoses, procedures and complications during hospital stay, and outcome at discharge. All variables were defined by the scientific committee before data collection and have remained unaltered since. The definitions were based on those of the Vermont-Oxford Trials Network.⁵ Once collected by the local investigators, the data are sent to the database coordinator, checked for missing data and logic errors, corrected, completed, and then entered into a computerised database. Patient information is cross checked with the national birth registry, and data for any missing infant are requested from the birth hospital.

Study sample

For the purposes of this study, we selected all singletons and complete sets of twins or triplets with a birth weight of 1500 g or less and gestational age 24–34 weeks. Sets in which one member did not meet entry criteria were excluded. Infants born alive after induced terminations of pregnancy were excluded.

Definition of outcome variables

Death was defined as occurring before discharge from hospital. Chronic lung disease was defined as a clinical diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and requirement for supplemental oxygen therapy at 28 days of life. Adverse neurological outcome was defined as one or more of the following: grade 3 or 4 periventricular-intraventricular haemorrhage,⁶ cystic periventricular leucomalacia, or posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Small for gestational age was defined as more than 2 SDs below the mean based on the data of Usher and McLean⁷ for singleton births.

Statistical analysis

Differences between singletons, twins, and triplets with regard to maternal and infant characteristics were studied using the χ² test for proportions and the General linear models for continuous variables. To assess the net effect of plurality on each of the three outcome variables, adjusted for other risk factors (covariates), a generalised logistic regression method was used by applying generalised estimating equations. This method accounts for interclass correlations in sets of multiple births. Results of the generalised logistic regression are presented as odds ratios (OR) with the appropriate 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS statistical software (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, North Carolina, USA).

RESULTS

Rise in multiple births

During the five years of the study period (1 January 1995 to 31 December 1999), there was a significant rise in the annual birth rate of VLBW infants (table 1). The rise was explained partly by a rise in the absolute number of total births and also by an increase in the proportion of multiples. Overall, 7047 infants were registered with the database, which comprise 99% of VLBW infant births in Israel. Of these, 5594 met study criteria, including 3717 (66%) singletons, 1394 (25%) twins, and 483 (9%) triplets.

Table 1

Annual number (1995–1999) of all very low birthweight (VLBW) infants and singletons, twins, and high multiples in the Israel national VLBW infant database

Baseline maternal and infant characteristics

The mothers of triplets were significantly more likely to have conceived with assisted reproductive techniques, to have begun antenatal care in the first trimester, to have received antenatal steroids, and to have delivered by caesarean section (all p < 0.001) (table 2). Maternal hypertension was significantly less common in twin and triplet pregnancies (p < 0.001). No difference was found between the groups in maternal age. A higher proportion of twins and triplets than singletons were of Jewish origin.

Table 2

Univariate analysis of maternal and infant characteristics

There was a slight, but significant, inverse relation between plurality and birth weight and gestational age. Triplets were on average 47 g lighter (p < 0.01) and 0.4 weeks younger (p < 0.01) than singletons. Significantly more singletons were small for gestational age (p < 0.001). The infants were similar in sex distribution and Apgar scores, although singletons were slightly less likely to be resuscitated at birth (p < 0.01).

RDS

RDS was diagnosed in 59.9% of singletons, 70.4% of twins, and 75.9% of triplet infants (table 3). In the multivariate analysis (table 4), both twins (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.89) and triplets (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.87 to 3.37) were associated with an increase in RDS. This difference is particularly striking in view of the increased exposure of triplets to antenatal steroids (table 2). Lack of antenatal steroid treatment was associated with an increased risk of RDS (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.7 to 2.35).

Table 3

Univariate analysis of poor outcomes and related morbidity

Table 4

Generalised logistic regression analyses for respiratory distress syndrome and poor outcomes (chronic lung disease, adverse neurological findings, and death)

Major outcome variables

Univariate analysis showed no significant differences between the groups in the incidence of each of the outcome variables, except for a small difference between twins and triplets in the incidence of CLD (25. 3% v 19.4%; p < 0.05) (table 3). No other significant differences were found between the groups in the incidence of major neonatal morbidity, such as sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, or pulmonary air leak (data not shown).

In the multivariate analysis, triplets were at increased risk of mortality (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.11) but not of adverse neurological outcome (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.85) or chronic lung disease (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.02). Singletons and twins were at similar risk of poor outcomes (table 4).

Covariates associated with poor outcome

Vaginal delivery was associated with an increased risk of death (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.7) and adverse neurological outcome (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.53) (table 4). Lower gestational age, male sex, intrauterine growth retardation, need for resuscitation at birth, and RDS were all associated with significant increases in each of the poor outcomes.

DISCUSSION

This study shows that, despite earlier prenatal care, more antenatal steroids and delivery by caesarean section, VLBW triplets more often suffer from RDS and are at increased risk of death than twins or singletons.

Numerous previous studies have shown a clear inverse correlation between plurality and length of gestation.^3,8 Alexander et al,³ in a large, population based study, found the mean length of gestation to be 39 weeks in singletons, 35.8 weeks in twins, and 32.5 weeks in triplets. Accordingly, neonatal morbidity and mortality have been shown to be higher in twins and triplets, and this finding has mostly been attributed to the complications of prematurity.⁸

However, the hypothesis that these differences may be fully explained by differing gestational age has been questioned. Botting et al⁹ compared mortality in singleton and multiple pregnancies in England and Wales between 1978 and 1983 and found that differences in birthweight distribution did not wholly explain the differences in mortality. Synnes et al¹⁰ found higher adjusted mortality in twins than singletons of 24–28 weeks. The effect was considerable at 24 weeks and absent at 28 weeks. Buekens and Wilcox¹¹ conducted a large study of birthweight specific mortality and found twins to be at higher risk in all weight groups. By comparison, some studies have not found twins to be at higher risk. Donovan et al¹² compared outcomes of twins and singletons in the National Institute of Child Health and Disease Very Low Birth Weight network. No differences were found between the groups with respect to deaths, chronic lung disease, or grade 3/4 intraventricular haemorrhage. Wolf et al¹³ found no differences in morbidity and mortality between VLBW twins and singletons.

A number of studies have compared outcome in triplets, twins, and singletons.^14–22 However, these studies mostly included small samples, were uncontrolled for birth weight or gestational age, and did not focus on the high risk group of VLBW infants.

Some studies have adjusted for differences between the groups. Kaufman et al²³ compared singletons, twins, and triplets of similar gestational age and found no significant differences in morbidity and mortality. However, this study included only 55 sets of triplets. Ericson et al²⁴ conducted a registry based study of VLBW infants in Sweden in 1978–1983. Singletons and multiples were compared in 100 g groups by birth weight, and mortality was found to be higher in multiples. No correction was made for confounding variables. Luke²⁵ studied birth statistics in the United States from 1983 to 1988. In a sample of 9523 infants, gestational age adjusted mortality was found to be higher in triplets. Neilsen et al²⁶ reported a gestational age corrected comparison between singletons and multiples (mostly twins). Multiples suffered more often from RDS but there was no difference in mortality. Martin et al²⁷ studied US birth certificate data for 1971–1994 and found that triplets had a survival advantage over singletons at lower gestations. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no large, population based studies comparing outcome in VLBW singletons, twins, and high multiples after correction for gestational age and relevant perinatal confounding variables.

A number of problems with our study need to be examined. Firstly, although the quality of the data was high and almost complete data were obtained on more than 98% of the infants born in the country during the study period, information on oxygen requirement at 36 weeks corrected gestational age was incomplete. This necessitated the use of an alternative and possibly less satisfactory definition of chronic lung disease, namely, requirement of oxygen at 28 days of life and a clinical diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, oxygen requirement at 28 days correlates strongly with subsequent requirement at 36 and 42 weeks.²⁸ Secondly, data on intrauterine growth are limited by the fact that singleton growth charts were used for all infants and thus some of the multiples who were classified as small for gestational age may have been an appropriate size for gestational age on growth charts for multiples. Thus, although there were fewer small for gestational age infants among the multiples, this difference may in fact be even more pronounced than found here. Finally, there may be a selection bias inherent in the choice of VLBW infants only. It is possible that the differences seen here would not be found in larger, older infants.

Why was RDS more common in twins and triplets despite increased exposure to antenatal steroids? One possible explanation is that doctors dealing with triplets may choose to employ a prophylactic approach to surfactant administration shortly after delivery. This may result in an artificial overdiagnosis of RDS. However, this seems unlikely in view of the strong correlation between the diagnosis of RDS and each of the poor outcomes (table 4). Another possible explanation is diminished efficacy of antenatal steroid treatment in multiples. Available data have provided conflicting information, mostly because of small numbers of multiples in trials of steroid treatment. ^29,30

Why do triplets fare worse? Does the stressful situation of the delivery of three high risk infants result in a lower standard of care and thus poorer outcome? In this study, triplets did not have lower Apgar scores and did not require more resuscitative efforts. They did require more oxygen in the first 12 hours of life and at age 72 hours but this finding probably reflects the higher incidence of RDS. Subsequently, there was no significant difference in oxygen requirement between the groups (data not shown). Thus, if we can conclude that triplets receive similar care, then perhaps they have an intrinsic biological disadvantage compared with singletons or twins. This hypothesis can only be confirmed by large, population based studies of all singletons, twins, and triplets, in which data on all relevant variables are prospectively collected.

In summary, this is the first large, population based study to adjust for relevant perinatal confounding variables and then clearly show that VLBW triplets are at increased risk of RDS and mortality.

The following papers appearing in the January 2003 issue of ADC may be of interest to readers of Fetal and Neonatal.

Six month impact of false positives in an Australian infant hearing screening programme. Z Poulakis, M Barker, M Wake

Postnatal depression and infant growth and development in low income countries: a cohort study from Goa, India. V Patel, N DeSouza, M Rodrigues

Monitoring cardiac function in intensive care. S M Tibby, I A Murdoch

Acknowledgments

The Israel national very low birth weight database is supported by the Israel Center for Disease Control of the Ministry of Health.

The Israel Neonatal Network participating centres (in alphabetical order) are: Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Rishon Le Zion; Barzilay Medical Center, Ashkelon; Bikur Holim Hospital, Jerusalem; Bnei Zion Medical Center, Haifa; Carmel Medical Center, Haifa; English (Scottish) Hospital, Nazareth; French Hospital, Nazareth; Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem; Hadassah University Hospital, Har Hatzofim, Jerusalem; Haemek Medical Center, Afula; Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera; Italian Hospital, Nazareth; Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot; Laniado Hospital, Netanya; Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital, Bnei Brak; Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba; Misgav Ladach Hospital, Jerusalem; Nahariya Hospital, Nahariya; Poria Hospital, Tiberias; Rambam Medical Center, Haifa; Rivka Ziv Hospital, Tsfat; Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel and Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petach Tikva; Shaarei Zedek Hospital, Jerusalem; Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva; Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv; Wolfson Medical Center, Holon; Yoseftal Hospital, Eilat.

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Triplets helped link low birth weight to left-handedness

Medical professionals found a relationship between the weight of the child at birth and development of left- or right-handedness reported at Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . On the basis of two samples, consisting of a total of 2252 triplets, scientists showed that the average weight of left-handed people with birth was significantly less than the weight of right-handed babies.

The vast majority of people on the planet (90 percent) are right-handed. Although the percentage of left-handers varies in different cultures, average among left-handed men by 2-4 percent more than among women. Ultrasonic studies show that the fetus begins to use dominant hand already on the ninth week. It is known that left-handedness inherited, but so far genetically factors succeeded explain only a quarter of the cases. Lefties more often meet among premature babies and among those who was born weighing less than one and a half kilograms, but Which of these two factors comes first? low weight or premature birth, was still not clear. The study twins seems to confirm the influence reduced weight on shaping left-handedness. Researches show, that left-handed twins meet more often, but at the same time these were children born with reduced weight. That is, the factor affecting the formation of left-handedness twins are more likely to underweight, not that, the twins are or only children.

To clarify this issue, Finnish, Dutch and Japanese explorers led by Eero Vuoksimaa (Eero Vuoksimaa from the University of Helsinki studied twin triplets. By Researchers say triplets are perfect suitable for learning addiction between the formation of left-handedness and low birth weight. Children from triplets at birth weigh less than single children and twins. At the same time, in on average, they weigh less than two, and most of them are less one and a half kilograms, which are considered the threshold weight for the formation of left-handedness. AT the study involved two samples triplets, 1305 trios from Japan and 947 from Netherlands. Scientists took data about them from national registries and interviewed either the twins themselves, or, if they were younger than five years, their mothers. Apart from questions about the dominant hand, scientists wondering what stage of pregnancy children were born, their birth weight, mother's age, and at what age babies start to turn sit down, crawl, stand alone and walk. Ambidextrous scientists from studies were excluded.

It turned out that all lefties had a birth weight lower than in right-handed children. In the case of triplets from Japan, the average left-handed weight was 1.599 kilograms, right-handers - 1.727 kilograms. The twins from the Netherlands were generally larger; average weight of left-handed babies was 1,794 kilograms, right-handed children - 1,903 kilograms. Also researchers found that left-handers (compared to right-handed) motor skills developed much slower (p < 0.001), a also in childhood they had less Head circumference. In the same time other parameters: mother's age, stress during pregnancy, complications time of birth and birth order of babies did not affect the development of left-handedness.

Scientists got conflicting results as to whether it affects occurrence of left-handedness gestational babies age. If this factor analyzed simultaneously with reduced weight, both of them are slightly associated with the emergence left-handedness. If both factors analyzed separately, in the sample Japanese triplets gestational age hardly associated with left-handedness, and in Dutch twins, on the contrary, he provided significant impact. From this scientists concluded that both factors cannot be simultaneously include in the regression model. The weight loss was the most an important factor determining the formation dominant hand, but also gestational age, apparently, cannot be discounted.

Formerly researchers tied formation of left-handedness with bite: among people with a reduced lower jaw 25 percent more lefties than the rest. Other scientists have found prerequisites for the emergence of left- or right-handedness occurs during development spinal cord. More about lefties people and animals and whether it affects left-handedness to creativity read in our article.

Ekaterina Rusakova

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Triplets were born at the Pediatric University

Mom and babies feel well and are preparing for discharge

On June 10, two girls and a boy were born at the clinic of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University.

Newborn sisters are identical twins: they developed from one egg and shared the placenta in two. From another egg, their brother was formed, which had its own amniotic sac. Doctors call this pregnancy "dichorionic triamniotic triplets."

Mom of the kids Olga Khitrova said that she had already come up with names for the children: Maxim , Sofia and Anastasia . The woman also has an older son Alexander , who will soon be 6 years old. Olga and her husband dreamed of a girl, but already at the first ultrasound at 12 weeks, the spouses were told unexpected and good news: they would soon have four children. IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies have nothing to do with it: multiple pregnancy arose naturally.

The babies were born at 36 weeks by caesarean section. The girls weighed 1800 and 1920 grams, the boy - 2350 grams. According to doctors, these are very good indicators for triplets. Obstetrician-gynecologist Nino Abdaladze noted that the total weight of the babies was more than 6 kilograms, but the placenta and amniotic fluid must also be added to this figure.

The operation was performed with the use of epidural anesthesia, so the mother was able to get to know the newborns immediately.

Olga, in turn, said that when she got to the Perinatal Center of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, she immediately felt that she was in good hands.

Now she is perfectly coping with the unusual role of a mother of many children, for whom the most difficult thing is to believe in her happiness.