Perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies in a Moroccan level-3 maternity ward

Introduction: Twin pregnancies are associated with a higher rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality than singleton pregnancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancies in a Moroccan level-3 maternity ward. Methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional study of perinatal morbidity and mortality rates in newborn infants in twin pregnancies versus singleton pregnancies among women who gave birth at Souissi Maternity Hospital in Rabat from January 1 to February 28, 2014. Results: There were 3297 births and, of these, 65 in twin pregnancies and 3167 in singleton pregnancies. Twin pregnancies were associated with higher rates of preeclampsia and edampsia (P = 0.046), HELLP syndrome (P = 0.030), premature rupture of membranes (P < 0.001), malpresentation (P < 0.001), prematurity (P < 0.001), low birth weight in fullterm neonates (P < 0.001), respiratory distress at birth (P < 0.001), congenital malformations (P = 0.015), hospitalization in the neonatal period (P = 0.001), and perinatal mortality (P = 0.001) than singleton pregnancies. Monochorionic twins showed higher rates of low birth weight in fullterm pregnancies (P = 0.016) and of perinatal mortality (P = 0.017) than dichorionic twins. Conclusion: Twin pregnancies showed higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality than singleton pregnancies and were more exposed to prematurity. Monochorionic twin pregnancies showed a higher risk because of the significant exposure to low birth weight in fullterm babies.