Abstract: Objective To examine perinatal complications and outcomes of twin pregnancies in women aged over 40 years.Methods A retrospective study was performed on the clinical data of 3 127 twin pregnancies, managed in 12 national hospitals from January 2013-December 2013, to analyze differences in perinatal complications and outcomes between women aged over 40 years, and those aged 35 to < 40 years and 18 to < 35 years.Results For twin pregnancies, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, abortion, early preterm birth, termination of gestation, very low birth weight infants, mild neonatal asphyxia, and preterm births in women aged over 0 years was significantly higher than in women aged 35 to < 40 years and 18 to < 35 years (P < 0.05). Among women aged over 40 years and those aged 35 to < 40 years, the incidence of gestational hypertension was not significantly higher than in women aged 18 to < 35 years for twin pregnancies (P > 0.05).Conclusion Women aged over 40 years with twin pregnancies were more likely to develop maternal complications and poor perinatal outcomes. Therefore, twin pregnancies in women aged over 40 years should receive comprehensive perinatal management to extend the gestation and improve the perinatal prognosis.
* Fisher's exact probability method. GDM,gestational diabetes mellitus;PROM,premature rupture of fetal membranes;ICP,intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
* Fisher's exact probability method. LBWI,low birth weight infant;VLBWI,very low birth weight infant.
VLBWI, very low birth weight infant.