Maternal Race/Ethnicity and Mode of Delivery in Twin Gestations [A273

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Women of color in the United States have an increased risk of maternal morbidity and a higher risk of cesarean delivery (CD) compared to White women. This study aims to determine whether maternal race/ethnicity influenced mode of delivery (MOD) of twin gestations. METHODS: This was an IRB-approved, retrospective cohort study of all twin deliveries at a single institution between 1/1/2001 and 12/31/2018. Pregnancies delivered<24 weeks or with intrauterine fetal demise were excluded. The primary exposure, self-reported race/ethnicity, was categorized into five groups: White, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, Asian/Pacific Islander (PI)/Alaska Native (AN), and Other/Mixed. The primary outcome was CD. Statistical analyses included univariate analysis via Chi-square and ANOVA and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 796 pregnancies were included; 377 (47.8%) of participants identified as White, 236 (29.9%) as Hispanic, 83 (10.5%) as Asian/PI/AN, 44 (5.6%) as Black, and 50 (6.3%) as Other/Mixed. BMI, maternal age at delivery, chorionicity, and parity were different by race/ethnicity groups, but gestational age at delivery was not. The overall rate of CD was 71.1% and did not vary by race/ethnicity (P=.51). There were no differences by race/ethnicity when analysis was limited to those delivering>34 weeks and birthweights>2,500 g (P=.07) or among only nulliparous women (P=.77). In multivariable analysis, only nulliparity was associated with increased risk of CD (P<.01). CONCLUSION: Rate of CD for twin gestations is high but was not related to maternal race/ethnicity in this cohort. Further study is needed to evaluate the indications for cesarean deliveries across racial/ethnic groups in twin gestations as this was not examined in this cohort.