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. 2010 Aug;25(8):1191-6.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.8.1191. Epub 2010 Jul 20.

Recent trends in the incidence of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems in Korea

Sun Hee Choi  1 , Young Sil Park, Kye Shik Shim, Yong Sung Choi, Ji Young Chang, Won Ho Hahn, Chong-Woo Bae
Affiliations

Recent trends in the incidence of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems in Korea

Sun Hee Choi et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to survey multiple birth data and to analyze the recent trends of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems in Korea from 1991 to 2008. Data were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The total number of multiple births showed increasing trends. The multiple birth rate was maintained within less than 10.0 for the decade from 1981 to 1990. However, it increased gradually to reach 27.5 in 2008. The maternal age for multiple births was higher than for total live births. The mean birth weight of the total live births was 3.23 kg; for the multiple births it was 2.40 kg in 2008. The incidence of low birth weight infants (LBWI) among total live births was 3.8% in 2000 and 4.9% in 2008. For multiple births it was 49.2% and 53.0% during the same years. The incidence of preterm births among total live births was 3.8% in 2000 and 5.5% in 2008; for the multiple births it was 38.3% and 51.5% during the same years. The incidence of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems (preterm, LBWI, and advanced-maternal age) have been increased steadily over the last two decades in Korea.

Keywords: Birth Rate; Incidence; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Maternal age; Multiple Birth Offspring; Premature Birth; Twin study.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Advanced-maternal age distribution, more than 35 yr of age, during 2000, 2005, and 2008: The percentage of advanced-maternal age was much higher for multiple births than for the total live births, with increasing trends.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The incidence of low birth weight infants (LBWI) and very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) among total and multiple live births during 2000, 2008: The incidence was higher among multiple births compared to total live births group, with increasing trends.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The incidence of preterm infants among total live births and multiple live births during 2000, 2005, and 2008: The preterm group was subdivided according to gestational period (GP) less than 31 weeks and between 32 and 36 weeks of GP. The preterm incidence was much higher for multiple births than total live births with increasing trends.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Change in the multiple birth rate per 1,000 live biths in Korea from 1981 to 2008: The MBR was maintained at approximately 10.0 from 1981 to 1990, started to increase during the early 1990s, followed by a marked recent increase.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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