Association between Respiratory Distress Syndrome of Newborns and Fetal Growth Restriction Evaluated Using a Dichorionic Twin Pregnancy Model

Selective fetal growth restriction in dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Most of the published literature on selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) has focused on monochorionic twin pregnancies. The aim of this systematic review was to report on the outcome of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were DCDA twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR. The outcomes explored were intrauterine death (IUD), neonatal death and perinatal death (PND), survival of at least one and both twins, preterm birth (PTB) (either spontaneous or iatrogenic) prior to 37, 34, 32 and 28 weeks' gestation, pre-eclampsia (PE) or gestational hypertension, neurological, respiratory and infectious morbidity, Apgar score < 7 at 5 min, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A composite outcome of neonatal morbidity, defined as the occurrence of respiratory, neurological or infectious morbidity, was also evaluated. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to analyze the data, and results are reported as pooled proportion or odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies reporting on 1339 pregnancies with sFGR and 6316 pregnancies without sFGR were included. IUD occurred in 2.6% (95% CI, 1.1-4.7%) of fetuses from DCDA pregnancies with sFGR and 0.6% (95% CI, 0.3-9.7%) of those from DCDA pregnancies without sFGR, while the respective values for PND were 5.2% (95% CI, 3.5-7.3%) and 1.7% (95% CI, 0.1-5.7%). Spontaneous or iatrogenic PTB before 37 weeks complicated 84.1% (95% CI, 55.6-99.2%) of pregnancies with sFGR and 69.1% (95% CI, 45.4-88.4%) of those without sFGR. The respective values for PTB before 34, 32 and 28 weeks were 18.4% (95% CI, 4.4-38.9%), 13.0% (95% CI, 9.5-17.1%) and 1.5% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3%) in pregnancies with sFGR and 10.2% (95% CI, 3.1-20.7%), 7.8% (95% CI, 6.8-9.0%) and 1.8% (95% CI, 1.3-2.4%) in those without sFGR. PE or gestational hypertension complicated 19.9% (95% CI, 12.4-28.6%) of pregnancies with sFGR and 12.8% (95% CI, 10.4-15.4%) of those without sFGR. Composite morbidity occurred in 28.2% (95% CI, 7.8-55.1%) of fetuses from pregnancies with sFGR and 13.9% (95% CI, 6.5-23.5%) of those from pregnancies without sFGR. When stratified according to the sFGR status within a twin pair, composite morbidity occurred in 39.0% (95% CI, 11.1-71.5%) of growth-restricted fetuses and 29.9% (95% CI, 3.5-65.0%) of appropriately grown fetuses (OR, 1.9 (95% CI, 1.7-3.1)), while the respective values for PND were 3.0% (95% CI, 1.8-4.5%) and 1.6% (95% CI, 0.9-2.6%) (OR, 2.1 (95% CI, 1.0-4.1)). On risk analysis, DCDA pregnancies complicated by sFGR had a significantly higher risk of IUD (OR, 5.2 (95% CI, 3.2-8.6)) and composite morbidity or admission to the NICU (OR, 3.2 (95% CI, 1.9-5.6)) compared to those without sFGR, while there was no difference in the risk of PTB before 34 weeks (P = 0.220) or PE/gestational hypertension (P = 0.210).

CONCLUSIONS

DCDA twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR are at high risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The findings of this systematic review are relevant for counseling and management of complicated DCDA twin pregnancies, in which twin-specific, rather than singleton, outcome data should be used. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Incidence and predictors of respiratory distress syndrome among low birth weight neonates in the first seven days in Northwest Ethiopia Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, 2023: A retrospective follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Respiratory distress syndrome is a catastrophic respiratory problem among low birth weight neonates. It increases the suffering of neonates and the economic expenditure of the countries. Notably, it is a major public health issue in low-income and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. Despite this, studies regarding respiratory distress syndrome among low birth weight neonates were limited in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence and predictors of respiratory distress syndrome among low birth weight neonates in the first 7 days in Northwest Ethiopia Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals.

METHOD

Multicentred institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted from 19 September 2021 to 1 January 2023, among 423 low birthweight neonates. A simple random sampling technique was used. The data were collected using a data extraction checklist from the medical registry of neonates. The collected data were entered into EPI-DATA V.4.6.0.6. and analysed using STATA V.14. The Kaplan-Meier failure curve and log-rank test were employed. Bivariable and multivariable Weibull regression was carried out to identify predictors of respiratory distress syndrome. Statistical significance was declared at a p≤0.05.

RESULT

The incidence rate of respiratory distress syndrome was found to be 10.78 (95% CI 9.35 to 12.42) per 100 neonate days. Fifth minute Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (APGAR score) <7 (AHR 1.86; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.92), multiple pregnancy (AHR 1.43; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.96), caesarean section delivery (AHR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.93), prematurity (AHR 1.56; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.30) and birth weight <1000 g (AHR 3.14; 95% CI 1.81 to 5.40) and 1000-1499 g (AHR 2.06; 95% CI 1.42 to 2.83) were significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was higher than other studies conducted on other groups of neonates. Multiple pregnancy, fifth minute APGAR score, caesarean section, prematurity, extremely low birth weight and very low birth weight were predictors of respiratory distress syndrome. However, it needs further prospective study. Therefore, the concerned stakeholders should give due attention and appropriate intervention for these predictors.