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.
Birth Rate/*trends ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age ; Multiple Birth Offspring/*statistics & numerical data ; *Perinatal Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Premature Birth ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVETo review the health status of mothers undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF) and their offspring.

METHODSHealth status of 210 IVF mothers and offspring performed from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002 was compared with that of those who conceived naturally retrospectively.

RESULTA significant differences were found in rates of multiple births, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy,cesarean section, preterm delivery,low (and very low) birth weight infant,malformation(33.33 % with compared 1.72 %, 10.87 % with compared 4.59 %, 89.85 % with compared 65.57 %, 24.64 % with compared 6.27 %, 25.68 % with compared 8.23 %, 3.83 % with compared 1.17 %, all P<0.01) between IVF and those conceived naturally. The rates of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy,preterm delivery, low (and very low) birth weight infant were related to the rate of multiple births OR. 95 %CI were 3.49, 1.16-10.50; 13.65, 5.39-34.58; 14.91, 5.53-40.17; respectively. There was no statistical difference in neonatal outcome between normal IVF and intra-cytop-lasmic sperm injection (P>0.05); no difference in height and weight between full-term and preterm (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAssisted reproductive technologies increase multiple births rate, resulting in high rates of hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, low (and very low) birth weight infant.

Adult ; Cesarean Section ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Health Status ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; epidemiology ; Multiple Birth Offspring ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies