[Perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies in a Moroccan level-3 maternity ward]

Twin pregnancies are associated with a higher rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality than singleton pregnancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies in a Moroccan level-3 maternity ward.

This is a comparative cross-sectional study of perinatal morbidity and mortality rates in newborn infants in twin pregnancies versus singleton pregnancies among women who gave birth at Souissi Maternity Hospital in Rabat from January 1 to February 28, 2014.

There were 3297 births and, of these, 65 in twin pregnancies and 3167 in singleton pregnancies. Twin pregnancies were associated with higher rates of preeclampsia and eclampsia (P = 0.046), HELLP syndrome (P = 0.030), premature rupture of membranes (P < 0.001), malpresentation (P < 0.001), prematurity (P < 0.001), low birth weight in fullterm neonates (P < 0.001), respiratory distress at birth (P < 0.001), congenital malformations (P = 0.015), hospitalization in the neonatal period (P = 0.001), and perinatal mortality (P = 0.001) than singleton pregnancies. Monochorionic twins showed higher rates of low birth weight in fullterm pregnancies (P = 0.016) and of perinatal mortality (P = 0.017) than dichorionic twins.

Twin pregnancies showed higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality than singleton pregnancies and were more exposed to prematurity. Monochorionic twin pregnancies showed a higher risk because of the significant exposure to low birth weight in fullterm babies.