title: Complications in multiple gestation pregnancy: A cross-sectional study of ten maternal-fetal medicine centers in China.
abstract: Complications in women with multiple gestation pregnancy have not been studied in China. We aimed to establish a database of women with multiple gestation pregnancy and investigate the complications related to multiple pregnancy. We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 3246 women with multiple gestation pregnancy and who had multiple live-birth deliveries; the women were registered at ten maternal-fetal medicine centers in China in 2013. All participants completed a detailed questionnaire that included basic demographic information, history of gestation and abnormal fetal development, risk factors during pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. Overall, 1553 (47.8%) women experienced pregnancy complications; these women were more likely to have lower height and less education than women who did not experience complications. However, women who experienced complications had a higher twin birth rate and were more likely to have received regular antenatal care and assisted reproductive technology than women without complications (P < 0.05). Notably, preterm birth was a primary complication in multiple pregnancy (n = 960). In conclusion, pregnancy complications, especially preterm birth, were relatively common in women with multiple gestation pregnancy. The findings from this cross-sectional study in China may be used as a foundation for investigating risk factors for complications in women with multiple gestation pregnancy in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Tie-Ning
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Cai-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; cross-sectional study; multiple births; pregnancy complications