Weight Growth of Triplet Infants From Birth to Twelve Years of Age

Abstract

We analyzed the characteristics associated with the growth in weight of Japanese triplets from birth to 12 years of age. The study included 376 mothers and their 1,128 triplet children, who were born between 1978 and 2006. Data were collected through a mailed questionnaire sent to the mothers asking for information recorded in medical records. For these births, data on triplets' weight growth, gestational age, sex, parity, maternal age at delivery, maternal height, and maternal body mass index were obtained from records in the Maternal and Child Health Handbooks and records in the school where children receive health check-ups. The weight deficit of the triplets compared to the general population of Japan remained between 10% and 17% until 12 years of age. Moreover, at 12 years of age, the differences of weight between the general population and triplets were approximately -4.75 kg for boys and -6.00 kg for girls. Very low birth weight had the strongest contribution to body weight until 8 years of age. After 8 years of age, maternal body mass index was a significant factor affecting the weight of triplets until 12 years of age.

Development of Body Mass Index of Japanese Triplets From Birth Until the Onset of Puberty

“…The vascular abnormalities often result in large birth weight differences between MZ twins and may affect future growth (Pietiläinen et al, 2002). The prenatal conditions of triplets are more serious compared with those of twins (Glinianaia, et al, 2000; Kato, 2004; Luke et al, 2002; Yokoyama et al, 2012). Further follow-up is needed to investigate whether triplets achieve normal body size, including BMI, later in life.…”

“…Meanwhile, several studies have reported that the differences in body size between twins and singletons at births disappeared during childhood, but in a few studies differences remained until adulthood (Buckler & Green, 2004; Estourgie-van Burk et al, 2010, 2006; Luke et al, 1995; Pietiläinen et al, 1999; Wilson, 1979). Both weight and height of triplets were also found to be behind singletons until 12 years of age, in spite of the rapid catch-up growth during the first year of life (Luke et al; 2006; Yokoyama et al, 2011, 2012).…”

Literature Review: Pemanfaatan Buku Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak (KIA) serta Potensi Pengembangan Selanjutnya

“…Jepang merupakan salah satu negara maju yang menggunakan buku KIA, namun saat ini studi di Jepang terkait evaluasi efektifitas pemanfaatanbuku KIA sudah jarang ditemukan. Hal ini dapat dikatakan wajar karena keberhasilan Jepang yang telah mencapai cakupan layanan tingkat tinggi (100%) untuk buku KIA (Akashi, et al, 2018;Takeuchi, Sakagami, & Perez, 2016); sehingga mayoritas studi di Jepang lebih berfokus pada pemanfaatan buku KIA sebagai catatan informasi kesehatan dalam suatu studi/penelitian (sumber data sekunder) (Yokoyama, et al, 2008;Yokoyama, et al, 2009;Tanabe, et al, 2011;Yokoyama, et al, 2011;Kouda, et al, 2012;Yokoyama, et al, 2012;Uno, et al, 2012;Fujita, et al, 2013;Yokoyama, 2013;Mori, et al, 2014;Tanaka & Miyake, 2014;Ichikawa, Fujiwara, & Nakayamam, 2015;Hasegawa et al, 2017;Matsuda, et al, 2016;Melby, Yamana, & Surkan, 2016;Katsuragi, et al, 2017;Kato, et al, 2017;Nanri, et al, 2017;Nishizaki, et al, 2018;Yamakita, et al, 2018). Negara dengan masalah krisis sosial politik, AKI dan AKB yang masih tinggi (Kaneko, et al, 2017), negara berpenghasilan rendah dan menengah (Nakamura, 2010), serta negara dengan keterbatasan sumber daya (Osaki, Hattori, & Kosen, 2013), sangat disarankan untuk mengimplementasikan buku KIA dan melakukan penelitian lebih lanjut (Mori, et al, 2015).…”

Social Modifications of the Multiple Birth Effect on IQ and Body Size: a Population‐Based Study of Young Adult Males

“…It is well known that twins and, to an even larger degree, triplets have lower birthweight and earlier gestational age than do singletons . Previous studies have also shown that birth size affects both physical and cognitive development in twins and triplets. However, when comparing twins and triplets to singletons, taking into account the effect of gestational age or birth size is problematic.…”

“…With regard to physical development, evidence suggests that twins are lighter than singletons in late adolescence despite their rapid catch‐up growth in early childhood . Studies of the development of triplets are rare, but reports from Japan suggest that triplets fall behind singletons in their motor development in early childhood as well as growth in height and weight in mid‐childhood.…”