Birth weight discordance in very low birth weight twins: mortality, morbidity, and neurodevelopment.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Examine outcomes among birth weight concordant and discordant 401-1500?g twins. STUDY DESIGN:Twins (n?=?8,114) at NICHD Neonatal Research Network (1994-2011) were studied. Discordance (birth weight difference/larger twin birth weight x 100%) was categorized into:???14,?>?14-20,?>?20-30, and?>?30%. Separate logistic regression models for the smaller and larger infants assessed the adjusted association between discordance and outcomes. RESULTS:Compared with the smaller twin with???14% discordance, mortality, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and neurodevelopmental impairment or death were highest among the smaller twins with discordance?>?30%. The larger twins with discordance?>?30% had higher odds of patent ductus arteriosus, moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy, blindness, cognitive and motor scores??14-20%. CONCLUSIONS:Discordance?>?30% was associated with higher mortality in the smaller twin and higher morbidities among the smaller and larger twins.

SUBMITTER: Boghossian NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6713585 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature