ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Twins born to mothers in their teens and early 20s had a higher death rate than twins born to older mothers, according to a study to be published in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Dawn Misra, associate professor of health behavior and health education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is lead author of the study, "Infant Mortality Among Singletons and Twins in the United States During 2 Decades: Effects of Maternal Age."

Mortality numbers for twins are in sharp contrast to findings related to single births, which showed higher infant mortality rates among babies born to both younger (ages 15-24) and older (ages 40-49) mothers.

In order to examine how maternal age related to infant outcomes in single and twin births, Misra and her colleagues reviewed data from all live births in the United States in 1985-1986, 1990-1991, and 1995-1996. Upon further analysis, the researchers found that the results suggested the increased risk seen with decreasing maternal age might have been due to preventable causes of death such as injury.

The researchers concluded that the findings indicate maternal age might be a risk factor in twin births and should be examined more closely by public health and clinical practitioners and researchers.

Pediatrics is the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. To receive the full text of these studies, contact AAP Public Relations, Audrey Finkel (847) 434-7131 or Gina Steiner (847) 434-7872

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Updated November 25, 2002