Twins, triplets, and cerebral palsy in births in Western Australia in the 1980s.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the rate of cerebral palsy in twins and triplets in births from 1980 to 1989 in Western Australia and to identify factors associated with increase in risk. DESIGN: Pluralities for all births in Western Australia were identified through the standardised midwives' notification system, and cases of cerebral palsy were identified from the Western Australian cerebral palsy register. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multiple births, cerebral palsy, excluding postneonatal cause. RESULTS: The prevalence of cerebral palsy in triplets, of 28 per 1000 survivors to 1 year (95% confidence interval 11 to 63) exceeded that in twins (7.3; 5.2 to 10) and singletons (1.6; 1.4 to 1.8). Although tw..