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Physical growth and intelligence development of discordant dizygotic twins from birth to preschool age: a prospective

Huiqiu Xiang1, Xianping Huang1, Jing Zhu1

  • 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China.

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|September 5, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Birth weight discordance in dizygotic twins impacts physical growth and psychomotor development up to age 6. Smaller twins show slower development initially, but differences diminish by age 6.

Area of Science:

  • Twin studies
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Perinatal research

Background:

  • Existing research on twin discordance primarily focuses on adverse perinatal outcomes and short-term cognitive deficits.
  • Monochorionic twin studies often overshadow the specific developmental trajectories of dizygotic twins with significant birth weight discrepancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate differences in physical growth and intelligence development between small and large discordant dizygotic twins.
  • To track physical growth (weight and height) from birth to age 6.
  • To assess cognitive and psychomotor development at ages 1 and 6.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 34 dizygotic twin pairs with ≥20% birth weight discordance.
  • Measurements included weight and height from birth to 72 months.
  • Developmental assessments: Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) at 1 year; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) at 6 years.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in height and weight persisted from birth to 72 months, with limited catch-up growth in smaller twins.
  • Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) at 1 year was significantly lower in smaller twins, indicating higher rates of psychomotor retardation.
  • No significant difference in WISC-IV full-scale IQ at age 6, though factors like suffocation history and S/D value may influence IQ.

Conclusions:

  • Intrauterine growth disparities significantly impact physical growth and psychomotor development in dizygotic twins.
  • While initial psychomotor development differences are evident at 1 year, these disparities tend to decrease by age 6.
  • Long-term cognitive outcomes (IQ at age 6) may be less affected by birth weight discordance itself, but influenced by other perinatal factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
Discordant growthDizygotic twinsIntellectual developmentPhysical development

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