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Abstract Details
Maternal Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C Virus Carrier Status and Long-Term Infectious Morbidity of the Offspring: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Naim Abu Freha1, Tamar Wainstock2, Liat Poupko3, Avni Yonat Shemer4, Ruslan Sergienko2, Eyal Sheiner5
Author information
1The Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Soroka University Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
2The Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
3Medical School for International Health, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
4Clinical Virology, Soroka University Medical Center, The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer sheva, Israel.
5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) carrier status on the long-term infectious morbidity of their offspring. A population-based cohort study was conducted, including all singleton deliveries between the years 1991 and 2014 at a tertiary medical centre. The mothers were subdivided into three groups: HBV carriers, HCV carriers and non-carriers. Data on demographics, maternal, perinatal and long-term hospitalization for infectious morbidity were compared between the groups. During the study period, 242 905 (99.7%) non-carrier mothers, 591 (0.2%) HBV carriers and 186 (0.1%) HCV carriers were observed. Hospitalizations related to infectious morbidity was significantly higher in the offspring of HBV carriers compared with HCV and non-carriers (15.6% vs 11.3% vs 11.0%; P = .002, respectively; Kaplan-Meier, log-rank P < .001). Specifically, a significantly higher rate of hospitalizations gastrointestinal infectious morbidity was noted among the offspring of HBV carrier mothers (3.6% in the HBV carrier group, 1.6% in the HCV carrier group and 1.6% in the non-carrier group [P = .001]). There was a respiratory infectious morbidity of 8.1% among the offspring of HBV carriers, 8.6% among HCV carriers and 5.5% in non-carriers (P = .005). Using a Cox multivariable model, controlling for confounding variables, maternal HBV carrier status was associated with a significantly increased long-term infectious morbidity of the offspring, with an adjusted HR of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.388-2.077, P < .001). Maternal HBV carrier status is an independent risk factor for long-term infectious morbidity of the offspring, particularly for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.