Abstract:Objective To study the perinatal complications of late preterm twins(LPTs)versus early term twins(ETTs).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the complications of 246 LPTs,496 ETTs,and their mothers.The risk factors for late preterm birth were analyzed.According to gestational age,the twins were divided into five groups:34-34+6 weeks(n=44),35-35+6 weeks(n=70),36-36+6 weeks(n=132),37-37+6 weeks(n=390),and 38-38+6 weeks(n=106).The perinatal complications were compared between groups.Results Maternal hypertension,maternal thrombocytopenia,placenta previa,and premature rupture of membranes were independent risk factors for late preterm birth in twins(P<0.05).The LPT group had higher incidence rates of respiratory diseases,feeding intolerance,and hypoglycemia than the ETT group(P<0.05).The 34-34+6 weeks group had a higher incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia than the 37-37+6 weeks and 38-38+6 weeks groups;and had a higher incidence rate of septicemia than 36-36+6 weeks group(P<0.0045).The 34-34+6 weeks and 35-35+6 weeks groups had higher incidence rates of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,neonatal apnea,and anemia than the other three groups;and had higher incidence rates of neonatal pneumonia,hypoglycemia and septicemia than the 37-37+6 weeks and 38-38+6 weeks groups(P<0.0045).The 35-35+6 weeks group had a higher incidence rate of feeding intolerance than the 36-36+6 weeks,37-37+6 weeks,and 38-38+6 weeks groups(P<0.0045).The 36-36+6 weeks group had a lower incidence rate of hypoglycemia than the 34-34+6 weeks group and a higher incidence rate of hypoglycemia than the 37-37+6 weeks group(P<0.0045).Conclusions Compared with ETTs,LPTs have an increased incidence of perinatal complications.The incidence of perinatal complications is associated with gestational ages in the LPTs and ETTs.