[Morbidity structure among prematurely born babies of the same gestational age from single and twin pregnancies]

Premature infants, born before 37 completed weeks of gestation, belong to the category of at-risk children. They have a lower survival rate due to complex multifactorial diseases such as respiratory distress syndrome, nosocomial sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intracranial pathologies (bleeding, ischemia, maldevelopment), retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia which threaten survival and optimal neurodevelopment. Multiple pregnancies are more often delivered before the due date. Our objective was to determine the morbidity structure among prematurely born twins compared to singletons of the same gestational age.

The analysis included 60 prematurely born children (30 preterm twins and 30 singletons) who had been diagnosed with one or more diseases: respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy, icterus, septicaemia, and other, with the exception of general infections.

The most common diagnosis of preterm twins and singletons was hyperbilirubinaemia (83.3%) and respiratory distress syndrome (78.3%). Infections follow with 25% and intracranial hemorrhage with 21%.

According to statistical analyses, there is no significant difference in incidence of morbidity among prematurely born singletons and preterm twins.