Cardiac findings in newborn twins

Julie Molin, Maria Munk Paerregaard, Christian Pihl, Caroline Boye Thygesen, Adrian Pietersen, Sofie Dannesbo, Jakob Boesgaard Norsk, Anna Axelsson Raja, Ruth Ottilia B Vøgg, Anne-Sophie Sillesen, Kasper Karmark Iversen, Henning Bundgaard, Alex Hørby Christensen

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Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate cardiac findings in newborn twins from the general population and investigate if newborn twins may require systematic evaluation of cardiac parameters.

METHODS: Prospective cohort study of newborns with cardiac evaluation performed during the first month of life. Cardiac findings were compared 1:3 with matched singletons.

RESULTS: We included 412 newborn twins (16% monochorionic; 50% boys) and 1236 singletons. Comparing cardiac findings showed twins had an increased prevalence of non-severe structural heart disease (most common: ventricular septal defects in both groups), thinner left ventricular posterior wall in diastole (LVPWd; 1.82 vs. 1.87 mm, p = 0.02), smaller diameter of the left atrium (10.6 vs. 11.1 mm, p = 0.04), higher heart rate (148 vs. 144 bpm, p = 0.04), more left-shifted QRS axis (106 vs. 111°, p < 0.001), and lower maximum R-wave amplitude in V1 (927 vs. 1015 μV, p = 0.02) compared to singletons. After multifactorial adjustment for potential confounders, the effect of twinning on cardiac parameters persisted only for LVPWd (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Despite contemporary surveillance, we found an increased prevalence of non-severe structural heart disease in a population-based cohort of newborn twins. However, the effect of twinning on cardiac parameters was modest and generally did not persist after correction for likely confounding factors.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Paediatrica
Volume112
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)2050-2059
ISSN0803-5253
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

© 2022 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

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