Gestational Weight Gain in Twin Gestations and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Data on the association of inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies are limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between GWG and adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies. SEARCH STRATEGY Ovid, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases from January 1st , 1990 until Sep 23rd , 2020. SELECTION CRITERIA Interventional and observational studies evaluating the association between GWG and adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Summary odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random-effects model in a subset of studies that analyzed GWG as a categorical variable in relation to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. The primary outcome was preterm birth. MAIN RESULTS From 277 citations, 19 studies involving 36,023 women with twin pregnancies were included in qualitative analysis, of which 14 were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, 56.8% of women experienced inappropriate GWG: 35.4% (95%-CI 30.0-41.0%) gained weight below and 21.4% (95%-CI 14.2-29.5%) gained weight above IOM recommendations. Compared with GWG within IOM guidelines, GWG below IOM guidelines was associated with preterm birth before 32 weeks (OR 3.38 [95%-CI 2.05-5.58]), and a reduction in the risk of preeclampsia (OR 0.68 [95%-CI 0.48-0.97]). GWG above IOM guidelines was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia that was consistent across all BMI categories. CONCLUSIONS Inappropriate GWG affects over half of twin pregnancies and is thus a common and potentially modifiable risk factor for preterm birth and preeclampsia.