American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 133, No. 2: 133-143
Copyright © 1991 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
research-article |
Comparison of Infant Mortality among Twins and Singletons: United States 1960 and 1983
1Division of Analysis, National Center for Health Statis tics, Centers for Disease Control Hyattsville, MD
2Bureau of Maternal and Child Health Rockville, MD
Reprint requests to Dr Joel C. Kleinman, Division of Analysis, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1080, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Infant mortality among US black and white twins and singletons was compared for 1960 and 1983 usIng the Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Sets from the National Center for Health Statistics. Both twin and singleton infant mortality rates showed impressive declines since 1960 but almost all of the improvement in survival for both twins and singletons was related to increased birth weight-specific survival rather than improved birth weight distribution. One-half of white twins and two-thirds of black twins weighed less than 2500 g at birth, and 9% of white twin births and 16% of black twin births were in the very low (<1, 500g) birth weight category. In 1983, twin infant mortality rates were still four to five times that of singletons. However, twins had a survival advantage in the 1250–3,000 g range, which persisted after adjustment for gestational age. Cause-specific mortality among twins was considerably higher for every major cause of death: twin mortality risks due to newborn respiratory disease, matemal causes, neonatal hemorrhage, and short gestation/low birth weight were six to 15 times that of singletons. The lowest twin-to-singleton mortality ratios observed were for congenital anomalies and sudden infant death syndrome with relative risks twice that of singletons. The data underscore the need to develop effective strategies to decrease infant mortality among twins. Am J Epidemiol 1991 ;133:133-43.
brain neoplasms; child; leukemia; smoking
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. Hirtenlehner, A. Huber, H. Strohmer, H. Zeisler, P. Husslein, and M. Langer Reduction of Preeclampsia in Multiple Pregnancies by a Dedicated Monitoring Protocol Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 2003; 10(7): 418 - 422. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. C. Goodman, E. S. Fisher, G. A. Little, T. A. Stukel, C.-h. Chang, and K. S. Schoendorf The Relation between the Availability of Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatal Mortality N. Engl. J. Med., May 16, 2002; 346(20): 1538 - 1544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Justesen and A. Kunst Postneonatal and child mortality among twins in Southern and Eastern Africa Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2000; 29(4): 678 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. D. Kogan, G. R. Alexander, M. Kotelchuck, M. F. MacDorman, P. Buekens, J. A. Martin, and E. Papiernik Trends in Twin Birth Outcomes and Prenatal Care Utilization in the United States, 1981-1997 JAMA, July 19, 2000; 284(3): 335 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of Multiple Births on Low Birthweight--Massachusetts, 1989-1996 JAMA, June 2, 1999; 281(21): 1980 - 1981. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Guyer, J. A. Martin, M. F. MacDorman, R. N. Anderson, and D. M. Strobino Annual Summary of Vital Statistics---1996 Pediatrics, December 1, 1997; 100(6): 905 - 918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Cooper and D. L. Sandler Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants at 12 to 18 Months of Age in Soweto, South Africa Pediatrics, April 1, 1997; 99(4): 537 - 544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Christensen, J. W Vaupel, N. V Holm, and A. I Yashin Mortality among twins after age 6: fetal origins hypothesis versus twin method BMJ, February 18, 1995; 310(6977): 432 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|