Birthweight percentiles for twin birth neonates by gestational age in China.

Youjie Wang,Cong Yao,Yaqi Zhang,Bin Zhang,Yiming Zhang,Chao Xiong,Zhongqiang Cao,Aifen Zhou

doi:10.1038/srep31290

Abstract

Localized birthweight references for gestational ages serve as an essential tool in accurate evaluation of atypical birth outcomes. Such references for twin births are currently not available in China. The aim of this study was to construct up-to-data sex specific birth weight references by gestational ages for twin births in China. We conducted a population-based analysis on the data of 22,507 eligible living twin infants with births dated between 8/01/2006 and 8/31/2015 from all 95 hospitals within the Wuhan area. Gestational ages in complete weeks were determined using a combination of last-menstrual-period based (LMP) estimation and ultrasound examination. Smoothed percentile curves were created by the Lambda Mu Sigma (LMS) method. Reference of the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th percentiles birth weight by sex and gestational age were made using 11,861 male and 10,646 female twin newborns with gestational age 26–42 weeks. Separate birthweight percentiles curves for male and female twins were constructed. In summary, our study firstly presents percentile curves of birthweight by gestational age for Chinese twin neonates. Further research is required for the validation and implementation of twin birthweight curves into clinical practice.

Highlights

Localized birthweight references for gestational ages serve as an essential tool in accurate evaluation of atypical birth outcomes
We attempted to construct up-to-date, gestational age specific birth weight references based on data from a population-based, local birth surveillance system in Wuhan, a city located in center China
This paper presented sex-specific twin birthweight references between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation, based on a cross-sectional study of city-wide population in Wuhan, China, during 2006–2015

Summary

Introduction

Localized birthweight references for gestational ages serve as an essential tool in accurate evaluation of atypical birth outcomes Such references for twin births are currently not available in China. The aim of this study was to construct up-to-data sex specific birth weight references by gestational ages for twin births in China. Birth weight standards for twins have been published and updated in several countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway and Taiwan[11,16,17,18,19] By contrast, this reference has not yet been established in China. We attempted to construct up-to-date, gestational age specific birth weight references based on data from a population-based, local birth surveillance system in Wuhan, a city located in center China

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion