Risk of birth defects increased in multiple births.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies inconsistently suggest that there may be an association between birth defects and multiple births.


METHODS
Data were obtained from Zhejiang Hospital-Based Birth Defects Surveillance System during 2007 to 2009. There was a total of 545,018 pregnancies, including 537,593 singleton pregnancies, and 7425 multiple pregnancies (14,606 twins and 366 triplets). Odds ratio (OR)and confidence interval (CI) for birth defects were calculated for the singletons and multiple births.


RESULTS
The rate of birth defects in multiple births was 444.16 per 10,000 births versus 266.97 per 10,000 births in singletons (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.57-1.84). A significant risk of birth defects was observed in 9 of 23 categories in multiple births. Both the multiple births and singletons with birth defects exhibited a similar proportion of single malformation, male children, and the mother living in a city. The multiple births with birth defects were delivered earlier (t = 7.90, p < 0.001) at a lower birth weight (t = 17.53, p < 0.001) compared to singletons with birth defects. The proportion of an antenatal diagnosis was higher in singletons compared with multiple births (p < 0.001). The multiple births with birth defects had a higher proportion of live birth and early neonatal death (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
An increased risk of birth defects in multiple births compared with singletons was confirmed.
Zhang
Xiao-Hui
XH
Deparment Of Women's Health, Women's Hospital School Of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. xiaoluzi521@sina.com
Qiu
Li-Qian
LQ
Huang
Jiang-Ping
JP
D002681:China; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors