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Research report
Twinning and major birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2007
  1. April L Dawson1,
  2. Sarah C Tinker1,
  3. Denise J Jamieson2,
  4. Charlotte A Hobbs3,
  5. R J Berry1,
  6. Sonja A Rasmussen4,
  7. Marlene Anderka5,
  8. Kim M Keppler-Noreuil6,
  9. Angela E Lin5,7,
  10. Jennita Reefhuis1,
  11. the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
  1. 1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  2. 2National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  3. 3College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
  4. 4Office of Infectious Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  5. 5Massachusetts Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  6. 6National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  7. 7Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  1. Correspondence to April Dawson, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E86, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; isp3{at}cdc.gov

Abstract

Background Twinning has been associated with many types of birth defects, although previous studies have had inconsistent findings. Many studies lack information about potential confounders, particularly use of fertility treatment. Our objective was to assess the association between twinning and birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS).

Methods We used data from the NBDPS, a population-based, case–control study of major birth defects in the USA, to evaluate associations between twinning and birth defects. The study population included mothers of twin and singleton controls (live-born infants without major birth defects), and cases (fetuses or infants with a major birth defect) born October 1997–December 2007. Adjusted ORs and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable logistic regression stratified by use of fertility treatment. Twin sex-pairing data and a simulation approach were used to estimate the zygosity of twins.

Results In the unassisted conception stratum, we observed significant positive associations between twinning and 29 of 45 defect groups. The largest effect estimates were observed for multiple ventricular septal defects and cloacal exstrophy. Among mothers reporting any use of fertility treatments, we observed a significant association with twinning for 5 of 25 defect groups, with the largest effect estimates for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and omphalocele. OR estimates in the estimated monozygotic stratum were generally further from the null than in the dizygotic stratum.

Conclusions Compared with singletons, a wide range of birth defects are significantly more common among twins. Birth defect risk in twins may be differential by use of fertility treatment.

  • BIRTH DEFECTS
  • TWINS/GENETICS
  • FERTILITY

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206302

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors Each of the authors contributed to the preparation and editing of the manuscript. ALD designed the study, conducted the literature review and analyses. JR and SCT assisted with refining the study design, analyses and interpretation of results. DJJ, CAH and RJB provided clinical expertise and assisted with interpretation of results. MA assisted with interpretation of results and provided critical review of the manuscript. KMK-N and AEL provided case classification and assisted with interpretation of results.

    • Funding This work was supported through cooperative agreements under PA 96043, PA 02081 and FOA DD09-001 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Centers for Birth Defects Research and Prevention participating in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

    • Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and each participating Center of Birth Defects Research and Prevention.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.