Maternal morbidity and infant death in twin vs triplet and quadruplet pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to calculate nationally representative, population-based estimates of maternal and neonatal risks in triplet and quadruplet pregnancies compared with twin pregnancies.


METHODS
The study population included 316,696 twin, 12,193 triplet, and 778 quadruplet pregnancies from the 1995-2000 Matched Multiple Birth Data Set. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% CIs estimated the risk of complications and were controlled for maternal age, race, parity, and smoking status.


RESULTS
Compared with mothers of twins, mothers of triplets and quadruplets were more likely to be diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes (AORs, 1.53, 1.74, respectively), pregnancy-associated hypertension (AORs, 1.22, 1.27), and excessive bleeding (AORs, 1.50, 2.22), to require tocolysis (AORs, 2.85, 5.03), and to be delivered by cesarean (AORs, 6.55, 7.38) at < 29 weeks of gestation (AORs, 3.76, 7.96), and to have > or = 1 infants die (AORs, 3.02, 4.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Triplet and quadruplet pregnancies have significantly higher risks than twin pregnancies for most maternal and neonatal complications. Maternal anthropometric, nutritional, and previous reproductive factors may be particularly important in the reduction of these excess risks and improvement of outcomes in multiple births.
Luke
Barbara
B
University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Brown
Morton B
MB
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011783:Quadruplets; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins