Twin pregnancy following a short interpregnancy interval: Maternal and neonatal outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with twin pregnancies following a short interpregnancy interval (IPI < 6 months).

Study design: A retrospective computerized database study in a single tertiary medical center between 2005 and 2021. Women who had an index singleton delivery and a subsequent twin gestation in their next pregnancy at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) were included. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies following a short IPI (<6 months) were compared to those with an optimal IPI (18-48 months). Univariate analysis was followed by multiple logistic regression models; adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results: During the study period, 2,079 women had an index singleton delivery followed by a twin gestation in their next pregnancy recorded at our medical center; 116 (5.9 %) had a history of short IPI, and 1,057 (50.8 %) had a history of optimal IPI. Women with a history of short IPI had higher rates of preterm labor < 37 weeks and < 34 weeks, NICU admissions and prolonged hospital stay of the first and second fetuses, mechanical ventilation of the first fetus, 1 and 5 Minute Apgar score lower than 7 of the second fetus and lower rates of elective cesarean delivery. An adjusted multivariate analysis showed that a history of short IPI was not an independent risk factor for preterm birth either < 34 weeks or < 37 weeks or for composite adverse neonatal outcome of the first and second twin.

Conclusion: Twin pregnancy following a short IPI was not associated with neither preterm labor nor composite adverse neonatal outcome.

Keywords: Interpregnancy interval; Pregnancy outcome; Preterm delivery; Twin.