Abstract
BackgroundBirthweight remains one of the strongest predictors of perinatal mortality and disability. Birthweight percentiles form a reference that allows the detection of neonates at higher risk of neonatal and postneonatal morbidity. The aim of the study is to present updated national birthweight percentiles by gestational age for male and female twins born in Australia.MethodsPopulation data were extracted from the Australian National Perinatal Data Collection for twins born in Australia between 2001 and 2010. A total of 43,833 women gave birth to 87,666 twins in Australia which were included in the study analysis. Implausible birthweights were excluded using Tukey’s methodology based on the interquartile range. Univariate analysis was used to examine the birthweight percentiles for liveborn twins born between 20 and 42 weeks gestation.ResultsBirthweight percentiles by gestational age were calculated for 85,925 live births (43,153 males and 42,706 females). Of these infants, 53.6 % were born preterm (birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation) while 50.2 % were low birthweight (<2500 g) and 8.7 % were very low birthweight (<1500 g). The mean birthweight decreased from 2462 g in 2001 to 2440 g in 2010 for male twins, compared with 2485 g in 1991–94. For female twins, the mean birthweight decreased from 2375 g in 2001 to 2338 g in 2010, compared with 2382 g in 1991–94.ConclusionsThe birthweight percentiles provide clinicians and researchers with up-to-date population norms of birthweight percentiles for twins in Australia.
Highlights
Birthweight remains one of the strongest predictors of perinatal mortality and disability
The aim of the study is to present updated national birthweight percentiles for all male and female liveborn twins born in Australia over the 10-year period between 2001 and 2010
Population-based data on twins born in Australia between January 2001 and December 2010 were obtained from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC)
Summary
Birthweight remains one of the strongest predictors of perinatal mortality and disability. Birthweight percentiles form a reference that allows the detection of neonates at higher risk of neonatal and postneonatal morbidity. The aim of the study is to present updated national birthweight percentiles by gestational age for male and female twins born in Australia. Birthweight percentiles form a reference that incorporates weight and gestational age of infants at birth and are used as an adjunct for detecting neonates with suspected intrauterine growth impairment and those at higher risk of neonatal and postneonatal morbidity. Twin births account for about 3 % of all births in Australia but make a significantly greater contribution to perinatal morbidity and mortality than singleton births [3]. The aim of the study is to present updated national birthweight percentiles for all male and female liveborn twins born in Australia over the 10-year period between 2001 and 2010
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