[P-221] EFFECT OF MULTIPLE GESTATION ON ACHIEVEMENT TEST PERFORMANCE IN CHILDREN CONCEIVED BY IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF).

L. M. Mains, J. Blaine, B. Stegmann, A. Sparks, B. Van Voorhis University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

OBJECTIVE: Examine performance on Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) in multiples versus singletons conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF)
DESIGN: Case control study
MATERIALS AND METHODS: IVF database at UIHC was screened for cycles resulting in children currently 8-17 years old. Questionnaires on child's health and education and parental education were mailed. ITBS scores from grades 3-12 were collected, including National Standard Scores (NSS) and National Percentile Rank (NPR) for 5 subtests (see Table 1). NSS for each subtest from 3rd grade was analyzed using logistic regression models adjusted for gestational age at birth and parental education.
RESULTS: 490 couples were contacted. 295 couples (60.2%) having 462 children agreed to participate. Third grade scores were collected on 388 children (191 singletons [49.2%], 154 twins [39.7%], and 43 triplets [11.1%]). Singletons scored higher than twins and twins higher than triplets on all subtests. Score differences represented a drop in NPR of 3.9-6.9% when comparing singletons to twins and 7.1-13.5% when comparing singletons to triplets.

Mean NSS (95% confidence interval)

Subtest	Singletons (n=191)	Twins (n=154)	Triplets (n=43)
Vocabulary	197.9 (194.6, 201.1)1,2	191.7 (188.4, 194.9)1	188.4 (181.4, 195.5)2
Reading	199.3 (196.0, 202.6)	194.6 (191.3, 197.9)	190.3 (182.3, 197.4)
Language	199.5 (195.7. 203.3)	193.7 (189.9, 197.4)	190.4 (181.6, 199.1)
Math	194.9 (192.0, 197.8)	193.6 (190.6, 196.5)	189.6 (183.3, 195.8)
Core Total	198.4 (195.4, 201.5)3	194.1 (180.4, 194.5)	187.5 (180.4, 194.5)3

^1,2,3 p ≤ 0.05 in pairwise comparison between values with same superscript


CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest report of achievement test performance in children conceived by IVF. Data was limited by small number, test scores were overall high, and differences were small and may not be clinically significant. However, these results do suggest a detrimental effect of multiple gestation on academic performance.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:00 AM

Poster Session I: ART- In Vitro Fertilization