[Incidence of congenital anomalies among twins in the Czech Republic in international context].

AIM OF STUDY: Analysis of different development of congenital anomalies among twins and among singletons in the Czech Republic during 1996-2007 in international context.

TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective epidemiological study.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Nation-wide data from National Registry of congenital anomalies in the Czech Republic by the Institute for Health Information and Statistics (IHIS) for 1996-2007 and selected data from Report on Mothers at Childbirth database by the IHIS for 1996. The results were compared to similar international data in developed countries.

RESULTS

The increase of congenital anomalies found in twins in absolute figures due to increase of twin pregnancies as well as per 10 000 live-born babies was always higher during the observed period than among singletons. This pattern was identical with results of similar studies in selected European countries. There were also more anomalies among newborns of mothers after IVF + ET which was in agreement with scarce foreign studies of this type.

CONCLUSION

Incidence of congenital anomalies among twins in the Czech Republic increased during the study period and was higher than among singletons. It was also higher among newborns of mothers after IVF + ET than among spontaneously conceived women. These results were in agreement with other international studies.