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Objective To evaluate whether pregnancy outcomes associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in twin pregnancies differ relatively from those in singleton pregnancy. Methods We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all women with a liveborn singleton or twin hospital birth in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2019. Data were obtained from the Better Outcomes Registry & Network Ontario. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between women with and without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in twin gestations, and separately in singleton gestations. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) and 95% CIs were generated using modified Poisson regression and were compared between twins and singletons using relative risk ratios. Results Overall, 932,218 women met the study criteria, of whom 917,542 (98.4%) and 14,676 (1.6%) had singleton and twin gestations, respectively. The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was higher in women with twin compared with singleton gestations (14.4% vs 6.4%, aRR 1.85 [1.76-1.94]). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were associated with certain adverse outcomes in singleton gestations only and with other adverse outcomes in both the singleton and twin gestations, but the aRR was lower in twins. For example, preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation (singletons: 15.2% [hypertensive disorders of pregnancy] vs 5.4% [no hypertensive disorders of pregnancy], aRR 2.42; twins: 67.5% [hypertensive disorders of pregnancy] vs 50.4% [no hypertensive disorders of pregnancy], aRR 1.30) and neonatal respiratory morbidity (singletons: 16.3% [hypertensive disorders of pregnancy] vs 8.7% [no hypertensive disorders of pregnancy], aRR 1.50; twins: 39.8% [hypertensive disorders of pregnancy] vs 32.7% [no hypertensive disorders of pregnancy], aRR 1.13). These findings persisted in the subgroups of women with preeclampsia and early-onset preeclampsia. Conclusions Although the absolute risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes is higher in twin compared with singleton pregnancies, the incremental risk of adverse outcomes associated with hypertensive disorders in twin pregnancies is lower than the incremental risk in singleton pregnancies. These findings may be attributed in part to the higher baseline risk of preterm birth and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin compared with singleton pregnancies.

To assess whether routine induction of labor at 38 or 39 weeks in women with chronic hypertension is associated with the risk of superimposed preeclampsia or cesarean delivery.We conducted a retrospective population-based study of women with chronic hypertension who had a singleton hospital birth at 38 0/7 weeks of gestation of gestation in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2016. Women who underwent induction of labor at 38 0/7 to 38 6/7 weeks of gestation for chronic hypertension (n=281) were compared with those who were managed expectantly during that week and remained undelivered at 39 0/7 weeks of gestation (n=1,606). Separately, women who underwent induction of labor at 39 0/7 to 39 6/7 weeks of gestation for chronic hypertension (n=259) were compared with women who remained undelivered at 40 0/7 weeks of gestation (n=801).Of 534,529 women gave birth during the study period, 6,054 (1.1%) had chronic hypertension and 2,420 met the inclusion criteria. Women managed expectantly at 38 or 39 weeks of gestation were at risk of new-onset superimposed preeclampsia (19.2% [308/1,606] and 19.0% [152/801], respectively) and eclampsia (0.6% [10/1,606] and 0.7% [6/801], respectively), and more than half underwent induction of labor later in gestation (56.8% and 57.8%, respectively). The risk of cesarean delivery in the induction groups was lower (38 weeks of gestation) or similar (39 weeks of gestation) to that observed in women managed expectantly at the corresponding weeks (38 weeks of gestation: 17.1% vs 24.0%, adjusted relative risk 0.74 [95% CI 0.57-0.95]; 39 weeks of gestation: 20.1% vs 26.0%, adjusted relative risk 0.90 [95% CI 0.69-1.17]).Our findings suggest that in women with isolated chronic hypertension, induction of labor at 38 or 39 weeks of gestation may prevent severe hypertensive complications without increasing the risk of cesarean delivery.

To assess the association of antenatal corticosteroids and neonatal outcomes of preterm small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and estimate whether the association is similar to that observed in appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonates.We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data collected on singleton neonates born between 24 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks of gestation and admitted to tertiary neonatal units in Canada between 2010 and 2014. Outcomes of SGA neonates (birth weight less than the 10th percentile) who received antenatal corticosteroids 1-7 days before birth (n=698) were compared with those of SGA neonates who did not receive antenatal corticosteroids (n=220). A similar comparison was performed between AGA neonates (birth weight between 10th and 90th percentile) who received antenatal corticosteroids 1-7 days before birth (n=3,781) and AGA neonates that did not receive antenatal corticosteroids (n=1,868). The association of antenatal corticosteroid exposure with outcomes was assessed using multivariable logistic regression and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were compared between SGA and AGA groups.Of the 6,567 neonates eligible for the study, 918 (14.0%) were SGA. Women in the SGA group who were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids had a lower rate of neonatal death (7% compared with 12%, P=.01) compared with those not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids, whereas the rate of composite outcome was similar between the two groups (28% compared with 30%, P=.56). After adjustment for potential confounders, exposure to antenatal corticosteroids 1-7 days before birth was associated with beneficial effects among both the SGA and AGA groups with similar reduced odds of neonatal death (SGA: adjusted OR 0.29 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.57] compared with AGA: adjusted OR 0.40 [95% CI 0.29-0.54], P=.40), composite outcome (SGA: adjusted OR 0.53 [95% CI 0.33-0.87] compared with AGA: adjusted OR 0.51 [95% CI 0.42-0.62], P=.85), need for mechanical ventilation (SGA: adjusted OR 0.60 [95% CI 0.39-0.91] compared with AGA: adjusted OR 0.54 [95% CI 0.46-0.64], P=.70), and severe brain injury (SGA: adjusted OR 0.42 [95% CI 0.22-0.84] compared with AGA: adjusted OR 0.39 [95% CI 0.30-0.51], P=.80). Similar reduction in the odds of neonatal death was observed in the subgroup of neonates with birth weight less than the fifth percentile for gestational age and sex: adjusted OR 0.38 (95% CI 0.16-0.92).For SGA preterm neonates, exposure to antenatal corticosteroids 1-7 days before birth was associated with decreased odds of neonatal mortality and morbidity similar in magnitude to that observed among AGA neonates.

OBJECTIVE To describe a simulation-based curriculum on twin vaginal delivery and evaluate its effects on trainee knowledge and comfort about twin vaginal birth. METHODS Trainees participated in a three-part simulation consisting of a patient counseling session, a twin delivery scenario, and a breech extraction skills station. Consenting trainees completed a 21-item presimulation survey and a 22-item postsimulation survey assessing knowledge, experience, attitudes, and comfort surrounding twin vaginal birth. Presimulation and postsimulation results were compared using univariate analysis. Our primary outcomes were change in knowledge and comfort before and after the simulation. RESULTS Twenty-four obstetrics and gynecology residents consented to participation with 18 postsimulation surveys available for comparison (75%). Trainees estimated their participation in 445 twin deliveries (median 19, range 0-52) with only 20.4% of these as vaginal births. Participants reported a need for more didactic or simulated training on this topic (64% and 88%, respectively). Knowledge about twin delivery improved after the simulation (33.3% compared with 58.3% questions correct, P