How does gestational age affect growth and body composition of preterm twins?

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Pediatric Growth and Development
• Body Composition Analysis

Background:

• Preterm infants, both twins and singletons, experience altered growth trajectories.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing infant care and outcomes.
• Gestational age (GA), chorionicity, and feeding methods are key factors influencing preterm infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the growth and body composition (BC) of twin versus singleton preterm infants from birth to 3 months corrected age.
• To analyze the impact of gestational age (GA) on these comparisons.
• To investigate the secondary effects of chorionicity and feeding mode on twins' BC.

Main Methods:

• Anthropometric measurements and BC assessments were conducted at term-equivalent age and 3 months corrected age.
• Preterm infants were categorized by gestational age: extremely, very, moderate, and late preterm.
• Chorionicity (monochorionic, dichorionic, multichorionic) and feeding (human milk vs. formula) were recorded.

Main Results:

• Late-preterm twins were lighter and shorter than singletons at all study points, with lower fat-free mass (FFM).
• No significant differences in anthropometry or BC were observed between twins and singletons born before 34 weeks GA.
• Multichorionic infants had lower FFM at term compared to monochorionic/dichorionic twins; FFM was negatively associated with being a twin and formula-fed.

Conclusions:

• Twins and singletons born before 34 weeks GA demonstrate similar anthropometry and body composition.
• Late-preterm twins exhibit significantly different growth patterns and body composition compared to their singleton counterparts.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering gestational age and plurality when assessing preterm infant development.