Maternal pre-pregnancy infection with hepatitis B virus and the risk of preterm birth: a population-based cohort study

Assessment of male creatinine levels and fecundity in couples planning pregnancy: a national cohort study in China

STUDY QUESTION

Is there an association between male creatinine levels and time to pregnancy (TTP) in couples planning pregnancy?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Low and high male creatinine concentrations were associated with reduced couple fecundity.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Abundant evidence suggests male creatinine dysfunction is associated with infertility in males with kidney diseases. However, the association of preconception creatinine levels with reduced fecundity among general reproductive-aged couples lacks evidence from an in-depth population study.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Based on the population-based cohort study from the National Free Preconception Check-up Projects, 4 023 204 couples were recruited and met the inclusion criteria from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. They were planning pregnancy and were followed up every 3 months until achieving pregnancy as detected by gynaecological ultrasonography or were followed up for 1 year for the analysis of TTP.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI for creatinine deciles. Restricted cubic spline regression was adopted for the dose-response relationship of creatinine with HRs. R statistical software was used for data analysis.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Of the included participants, 2 756 538 (68.52%) couples successfully conceived. The median male serum creatinine was 81.50 μmol/l. Compared with the reference group (78.00-81.49 μmol/l) including the median creatinine, fecundity in the first (≤64.89 μmol/l), second (64.90-69.99 μmol/l), third (70.00-73.99 μmol/l), and tenth (≥101.00 μmol/l) deciles decreased by 8%, 5%, 2%, and 1%, respectively (Decile 1 Adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.91-0.92; Decile 2 Adjusted HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.95-0.96; Decile 3 Adjusted HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99; Decile 10 Adjusted HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99). An inverse-U-shaped association was consistently presented among males such that non-inferiority for fecundity was shown when creatinine was in the 81.66-104.90 μmol/l range (P for non-linearity < 0.001). For males over 40 years old, the risk of fecundity impairment was more obvious and the recommended range of creatinine levels for TTP was reduced and more narrow, compared with that for younger males.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Not including the time couples spend preparing for pregnancy before enrolment would lead to an overestimation of fecundity; additionally some couples place pregnancy plans on hold due to special emergencies, which would not have been recognized. Due to the lack of information regarding semen quality, psychological factors, sexual intercourse frequencies, and hazardous environmental factors, we could not adjust for these factors. Some variates were self-reported and dichotomized, which were prone to bias. Direct variables reflecting muscle mass and impaired kidney function were lacking. Thus, extrapolation should be done with caution.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Male creatinine is associated with couples' fecundity and the relationship varied by age. This study provides a better understanding of the potential implications and significance of different creatinine levels and their association with the clinical significance regarding couples' fecundity.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This research has received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81872634), the Basic Research Funds of Central Public Welfare Research Institutes of China (Grant No. 2023GJZ03), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1000307), and the Project of National Research Institute for Family Planning (Grant No. 2018NRIFPJ03), People's Republic of China. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Mental health concerns during pregnancy associated with the risk of preterm birth: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUNDS

There are multiple risk factors for preterm birth (PTB), one of the most important of which is mood disorders during pregnancy. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the association of both total mental health concerns and ten specific psychiatric symptoms with PTB risk.

METHODS

A cohort study was performed consisting of 25,175 pregnant women who participated in Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2020 and 2022. The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was utilized to assess the psychiatric symptoms. Multivariable or multinomial logistic regression was applied to investigate mental health concerns associated with risk of PTB or its different clinical sub-categories, respectively. Sensitivity analyses were further performed to validate the results.

RESULTS

8336 women who met the inclusion criteria were included; of these, 547 (6.6 %) had preterm deliveries, and 2542 (30.5 %) had mental health concerns. Compared with women with healthy minds, women with total mental health concerns had a 29.0 % higher risk of overall PTB (OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.07-1.54), medical-induced PTB (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.05-2.13) and spontaneous PTB with premature rupture of membranes (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.01-1.74). As to the specific psychological symptoms, hostility pregnant women had a 55.0 % higher risk of PTB (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.14-2.11). Similar results were observed in most of the sensitivity analyses.

LIMITATIONS

This is a single-center study, thus the extrapolation of the results may be limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with mental health symptoms, especially hostility, have an increased risk of PTB. The findings underscore that integrating mental health services into routine maternal care may be a strategy to prevent PTB.

Hepatitis B virus infection, infertility, and assisted reproduction

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most widespread viruses worldwide and a major cause of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have revealed the impacts of HBV infection on fertility. An increasing number of infertile couples with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection choose assisted reproductive technology (ART) to meet their fertility needs. Despite the high prevalence of HBV, the effects of HBV infection on assisted reproduction treatment remain limited and contradictory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of HBV infection on fertility and discuss its effects on pregnancy outcomes, vertical transmission, pregnancy complications, and viral activity during ART treatment. METHODS: We conducted a literature search in PubMed for studies on HBV infection and ART published from 1996 to 2022. RESULTS: HBV infection negatively affected fertility in both males and females. Existing research shows that HBV infection may increase the risk of pregnancy complications in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. The impact of HBV infection on the pregnancy outcomes of ART is still controversial. Current evidence does not support that ART increases the risk of vertical transmission of HBV, while relevant studies are limited. With the development of ART, the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) is increasing, especially due to the wide application of immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Regular HBV infection screening and HBVr risk stratification and management are essential to prevent HBVr during ART. The determination of optimal strategy and timing of prophylactic anti-HBV therapy during ART still needs further investigation.

The Association Between the Maternal Pre-pregnancy Platelet Count and Fecundability in Mainland China: A Population-based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Currently, awareness about platelet count (PC) and its consequences for perinatal outcome have increased, but there is little reliable evidence on fecundability.

METHODS

Based on the National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects supported by the Chinese government, 5,524,886 couples met the inclusion criteria and were included in this cohort study. Cox regression models were adopted to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for pre-pregnancy PC quintiles. Restricted cubic splines were used to flexibly model and visualize the relationship of PC with FRs. Microsoft SQL server and R software were used for data management and analysis.

RESULTS

The median of pre-pregnancy PC among women was 221.00 × 109/L. The first (<177.00 × 109/L) and second quintile (177.00-207.99 × 109/L) of PC showed slightly increased fecundability (Q1: adjusted FR 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.06; Q2: adjusted FR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.05), while higher quintals (Q4: 236.00-271.99 × 109/L; Q5: ≥272.00 × 109/L) were related to reduction of fecundability, when compared with the third quintile of PC (208.00-235.99 × 109/L) (Q4: adjusted FR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95-0.97; Q5: adjusted FR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.87-0.89). In the first quintiles (<177.00 × 109/L), only 20.93% women had PC below 129.94 × 109/L. An inverse-U-shaped association was consistently observed among women such that the lower PC within the normal range (<118.03 × 109/L) and higher PC (>223.06 × 109/L) were associated with the risk of reduced female fecundability (P for non-linearity < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

PC is associated with female fecundability. Further classification of PC levels may deepen our understanding of the early warnings and significance of female fecundability.

Maternal infection with hepatitis B virus before pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations in offspring: a record-linkage study of a large national sample from China

Background

Whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of women prior to pregnancy can influence risk of congenital malformations in offspring remains controversial. We assessed the association between them by considering congenital malformations in the aggregate as well as risk of organs systems using a large national sample of Chinese women.

Methods

We performed a record-linkage cohort study of women who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019 for whom data on congenital malformations in their offspring were available from the National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance Network. A total of 498,968 linked records were obtained, of which 127,371 were excluded because HBV status before pregnancy was unknown, the records involved multiple pregnancies, or pre-pregnancy examinations were conducted after conception. Based on pre-pregnancy status, mothers were assigned to two categories of HBsAg- or HBsAg+ and, in certain analyses, to three categories of HBsAg-, HBsAg+/HBeAg- or HBsAg+/HBeAg+. Potential associations of serological status with risk of congenital malformations, considered separately or in aggregate, were explored using multilevel logistic regression. Factors that might influence such associations were also explored.

Findings

Among the 371,597 women analyzed, 21,482 (5.78%) were HBsAg+ before pregnancy, and 8333 (2.24%) had a fetus or child diagnosed with congenital malformations, composed of 7744 HBsAg- women and 589 HBsAg+ women. HBsAg+ status was associated with increased risk of congenital malformations in the aggregate (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and of cardiovascular malformations specifically (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.35). HBsAg+/HBeAg- status was associated with significantly higher risk of cardiovascular malformations (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.39) as well as reproductive malformations (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.23). Associations between HBsAg+ status before pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations was modified by alanine aminotransferase activity (P interaction < 0.05).

Interpretation

Prepregnancy HBV infection might be associated with fetal malformations. This association needs further investigation to confirm whether it is a causal association, and assess whether antiviral therapy of women with HBsAg+ planning to conceive might reduce the risk of fetal malformations.

Funding

The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, China; Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, China; and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.

Hepatitis B virus infection during pregnancy and the risk of postpartum hemorrhage: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant public health issue worldwide, with a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroprevalence of 3.5%. Maternal HBV infection during pregnancy, a common comorbidity, is associated with an increase in the risk of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. However, the relationship between maternal HBV infection and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, is currently uncertain. The aim of this study is to comprehensively clarify the potential impact of maternal HBV on PPH risk.

Methods and Analysis

The authors initially searched five English databases and three Chinese databases from their inception to 26th June 2023. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Cohort and case-control studies investigating the effect of maternal HBV infection on PPH will be included, with study quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta-analyses will be performed using a fixed-effects model for I 2≤50% or a random-effects model otherwise. Several categories of subgroup analyses (e.g. sample size more than 1000 vs. less than 1000) and sensitivity analyses (e.g. omit NOS scores less than 7) will be conducted, and publication bias will be assessed through funnel plots, Begg's and Egger's tests using STATA 18.0.

Ethics and Dissemination

This systematic review and meta-analysis do not require ethics approval and the results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The findings of this systematic review will provide evidence on the impact of maternal HBV infection on PPH, which will contribute to better prevention and management of PPH in clinical practice and a better understanding of the disease burden of HBV infection.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023442626.

Association between risk of preterm birth and long-term and short-term exposure to ambient carbon monoxide during pregnancy in chongqing, China: a study from 2016-2020

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) is an important predictor of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Previous researches have reported a correlation between air pollution and an increased risk of preterm birth. However, the specific relationship between short-term and long-term exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and preterm birth remains less explored.

METHODS

A population-based study was conducted among 515,498 pregnant women in Chongqing, China, to assess short-term and long-term effects of CO on preterm and very preterm births. Generalized additive models (GAM) were applied to evaluate short-term effects, and exposure-response correlation curves were plotted after adjusting for confounding factors. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using COX proportional hazard models to estimate the long-term effect.

RESULTS

The daily incidence of preterm and very preterm birth was 5.99% and 0.41%, respectively. A positive association between a 100 µg/m³ increase in CO and PTB was observed at lag 0-3 days and 12-21 days, with a maximum relative risk (RR) of 1.021(95%CI: 1.001-1.043). The exposure-response curves (lag 0 day) revealed a rapid increase in PTB due to CO. Regarding long-term exposure, positive associations were found between a 100 µg/m3 CO increase for each trimester(Model 2 for trimester 1: HR = 1.054, 95%CI: 1.048-1.060; Model 2 for trimester 2: HR = 1.066, 95%CI: 1.060-1.073; Model 2 for trimester 3: HR = 1.007, 95%CI: 1.001-1.013; Model 2 for entire pregnancy: HR = 1.080, 95%CI: 1.073-1.088) and higher HRs of very preterm birth. Multiplicative interactions between air pollution and CO on the risk of preterm and very preterm birth were detected (P- interaction<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to low levels of CO may have protective effects against preterm birth, while long-term exposure to low concentrations of CO may reduce the risk of both preterm and very preterm birth. Moreover, our study indicated that very preterm birth is more susceptible to the influence of long-term exposure to CO during pregnancy, with acute CO exposure exhibiting a greater impact on preterm birth. It is imperative for pregnant women to minimize exposure to ambient air pollutants.

Preconception Blood Pressure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) share clinical features and risk factors with cardiovascular disease and there is an increasing prevalence of hypertension among reproductive women. However, the associations between maternal preconception blood pressure (BP) and APOs remain controversial and inconclusive.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study used data of 567 127 mother-neonate-father triads from the National Free Preconception Checkup Project in Guangdong Province, China. Maternal BP levels within 1 year before pregnancy were classified using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists definition of hypertension. The primary outcome was a composite of APOs, including preterm birth, small for gestational age, and perinatal infant death. Log-binomial and marginal structural binomial regressions were employed to estimate adjusted risk ratios and absolute risk differences, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with women with normal BP, women with elevated BP (adjusted risk ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.05-1.09]; absolute risk difference, 1.03% [95% CI, 0.72%-1.29%]), hypertension (adjusted risk ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.18-1.32]; and absolute risk difference, 3.42% [95% CI, 1.97%-5.42%]) had a higher risk of a composite of APOs. Compared with women with normal BP, women with elevated BP and hypertension had higher risks of multiple APOs, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and perinatal infant death. However, these associations attenuated with increasing duration of pregnancy preparation and were not statistically significant beyond 90 days of pregnancy preparation.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with elevated BP or hypertension before pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of APOs. Preconception hypertension screening and control among women should not be ignored by policymakers, clinicians, and the general population.

Navigating Perinatal Challenges: A Comprehensive Review of Hepatitis B Viral Infection and Pregnancy Outcomes

Hepatitis B viral infection poses a significant challenge during pregnancy, as the risk of vertical transmission carries serious consequences for both maternal and neonatal well-being. This comprehensive review delves into the intricacies surrounding hepatitis B infection during the perinatal period, shedding light on its impact on pregnancy outcomes and stressing the necessity of addressing it within the broader framework of perinatal care. By scrutinizing current evidence, diagnostic methodologies, management techniques, and preventive measures, this review emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced screening protocols, timely interventions, and augmented public health initiatives. Notably, key findings underscore the elevated likelihood of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in infants and its enduring implications for the health of both mothers and newborns. The imperative call to action advocates for a multifaceted approach, engaging healthcare professionals, policymakers, and public health agencies to optimize strategies for management and prevention, thereby striving for improved outcomes for pregnant women and their infants affected by hepatitis B viral infection.

Hepatitis B virus clinical and virologic characteristics in an HIV perinatal transmission study in sub-Saharan Africa

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical and virologic characteristics of HIV-HBV coinfection, including the predictors of high maternal HBV viral load in pregnant women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

METHODS

HPTN 046 was a HIV perinatal transmission clinical trial evaluating infant nevirapine vs. placebo. Women-infant pairs ( n  = 2016) were enrolled in SSA from 2007 to 2010; 1579 (78%) received antiretrovirals (ARV). Maternal delivery samples were retrospectively tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and if positive, were tested for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBV viral load (VL). High HBV VL was defined as ≥10 6  IU/ml.

RESULTS

Overall, 4.4% (88/2016) had HBV co-infection, with geographic variability ranging from 2.4% to 8.7% ( P  < 0.0001); 25% (22/88) were HBeAg positive with prevalence in countries ranging from 10.5% to 39%. Fifty-two percentage (40/77) of those with HBV received ARV, the majority (97%) received 3TC as the only HBV active agent. HBeAg positivity was associated with high maternal HBV VL, odds ratio (OR) 37.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4-252.4. Of those with high HBV VL, 40% (4/10) were receiving HBV active drugs (HBV-ARV). HBV drug resistance occurred in 7.5% (3/40) receiving HBV-ARV.

CONCLUSIONS

In SSA, HBV co-infection is common in pregnant women with HIV. HBsAg and HBeAg prevalence vary widely by country in this clinical trial cohort. HBeAg is a surrogate for high HBV viral load. HBV drug resistance occurred in 7.5% receiving HBV-ARV with lamivudine as the only HBV active agent. These findings reinforce the importance of HBsAg screening and early treatment with two active agents for HBV.

A Chinese longitudinal maternity cohort study (2013-2021) on intrahepatic cholestasis phenotypes: Risk associations from environmental exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is an idiopathic disease that occurs during mid-to-late pregnancy and is associated with various adverse pregnancy outcomes, including intrauterine fetal demise. However, since the underlying cause of ICP remains unclear, there is an ongoing debate on the phenotyping criteria used in the diagnostic process. Here, we identified single- and multi-symptomatic ICP (ICP-S and ICP-M) in 104,221 Chinese females from the ZEBRA maternity cohort, with the objective of exploring the risk implications of the two phenotypes on pregnancy outcomes and from environmental exposures. We employed multivariate binary logistic regression to estimate confounder-adjusted odds ratios and found that ICP-M was more strongly associated with preterm birth and low birth weight compared to ICP-S. Throughout pregnancy, incremental exposure to PM2.5, O3, and greenness could alter ICP risks by 17.3%, 12.5%, and -2.3%, respectively, with more substantial associations observed with ICP-M than with ICP-S. The major scientific advancements lie in the elucidation of synergistic risk interactions between pollutants and the protective antagonistic effects of greenness, as well as highlighting the risk impact of preconceptional environmental exposures. Our study, conducted in the context of the "three-child policy" in China, provides epidemiological evidence for policy-making to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.

Association of maternal preconception blood pressure with preterm birth: a population-based cohort study

The association between maternal preconception blood pressure (BP) and preterm birth (PTB) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between maternal preconception BP and PTB. This population-based cohort study included 715 984 Chinese women aged 20-49 years who participated in the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project and successfully had a singleton livebirth during 2014-2019 in Guangdong Province, China. Maternal preconception BP were measured by trained health workers. Multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline regressions were used to examine the association and dose-response relationship between maternal preconception BP and PTB, respectively. Maternal preconception hypertension was associated with the increased risk of PTB (adjusted odds ratios (aOR): 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14-1.34). Compared to women with normal preconception BP, the aORs for PTB were 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06-1.12), 1.24 (95% CI: 1.13-1.36), and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.15-1.79) for women with preconception elevated BP (120-139/ 80-89 mmHg, stage-1 hypertension (140-159/ 90-99 mmHg, and stage-2 hypertension (160-179/100-109 mmHg), respectively. According to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association criteria, maternal preconception elevated BP and hypertension were also significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB. Preconception systolic and diastolic BP showed a U-shaped (χ2 = 40.54; nonlinear P < 0.001) and linear (χ2 = 6.62; nonlinear P = 0.085) dose-response relationship with PTB, respectively. The association was modified by maternal age and preconception body mass index. These findings identify maternal preconception elevated BP and hypertension as a modifiable risk factor for PTB, providing evidence for future research studies, public health and clinical interventions.

Gravidity modifies the associations of age and spousal age difference with couple's fecundability: a large cohort study from China

STUDY QUESTION

Do couple's age ranges for optimal fecundability, and the associations with fecundability of couple's age combinations and age differences differ with gravidity?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The couple's age range of optimal fecundability and age combinations differed with gravidity, and gravidity might modify the associations of age and spousal age difference with couple's fecundability.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Age is one of the strongest determinants of fecundability, but the existing studies have certain limitations in study population, couple's extreme age combinations and age differences, and have not explored whether the association between age and fecundability differs with gravidity.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Retrospective cohort study. 5 407 499 general reproductive-aged couples (not diagnosed with infertility) participated in the National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects during 2015-2017. They were followed up for pregnancy outcomes through telephone interviews every 3 months until they became pregnant or were followed up for 1 year.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The main outcome was time to pregnancy, and the fecundability odds ratios and 95% CIs were estimated using the Cox models for discrete survival time. The associations of age and spousal age difference with fecundability were evaluated by restricted cubic splines.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

In this large cohort of general reproductive-aged population, the age of optimal fecundability of multigravida couples was older than that of nulligravida couples, but their subsequent fecundability declined more sharply with age. The decline in female fecundability was more pronounced with age, with fecundability dropping by ∼30% in both nulligravida and multigravida couples whose female partners aged ≥35 years. In the nulligravida group, the fecundability of couples who were both ≤24 years with the same age was the highest, which decreased steadily with the increase of spousal age difference, and younger male partners did not seem to contribute to improving couple's fecundability. In the multigravida group, couples with female partners aged 25-34 years and a spousal age difference of -5 to 5 years showed higher fecundability, and the effect of spousal age difference on couple's fecundability became suddenly apparent when female partners aged around 40 years. Young male partners were unable to change the decisive effect of female partner's age over 40 years on couple's reduced fecundability, regardless of gravidity.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Lacking the time for couples to attempt pregnancy before enrollment, and some couples might suspend pregnancy plans during follow-up because of certain emergencies, which would misestimate the fecundability. Due to the lack of information on sperm quality and sexual frequency of couples, we could not adjust for these factors. Moreover, due to population characteristics, the extrapolation of our results required caution.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The couple's age range of optimal fecundability, age combinations, and spousal age difference on fecundability varied with gravidity. Female age-related decline in fecundability was more dominant in couple's fecundability. Targeted fertility guidance should be provided to couples with different age combinations and gravidities.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This research received funding from the Project of National Research Institute for Family Planning (Grant No. 2018NRIFPJ03), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1000307), and the National Human Genetic Resources Sharing Service Platform (Grant No. 2005DKA21300), People's Republic of China. The funders had no role in study design, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors report no conflict of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Combined impact of Hepatitis B virus and gestational diabetes mellitus on ultrasound-measured fetal growth and adverse perinatal outcomes: A seven-year retrospective study

AIMS

To investigate the impact of pregnancy with combined hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on fetal growth and adverse perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

All the pregnant women with HBV infection and/or GDM who delivered at Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University between January 2015, and September 2022 were included. A total of 1633 pregnant women were recruited in the final analysis, including 409 women with HBV infection and GDM, 396 with HBV infection only, 430 with GDM only, and 398 without HBV infection and GDM. Linear and logistic regression models were used to study the impact of pregnancy with combined HBV infection and GDM on fetal growth and adverse perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Pregnancy with combined HBV infection and GDM was associated with increased Z-scores on primary fetal ultrasound parameters and significantly increased the risk of fetal femur length overgrowth (OR: 2.88, 95 % CI: 1.13 ∼ 7.35), placental abruption (OR: 3.64, 95 % CI: 1.18 ∼ 11.22), and macrosomia (OR: 4.19, 95 % CI: 1.66 ∼ 10.56) compared to pregnancy without HBV infection and GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Both maternal HBV infection and GDM are independently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Their combination further increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Emerging Pathogens Causing Acute Hepatitis

Acute hepatitis is defined as an inflammation or injury in the hepatocytes that continues for a short period of time (less than 6 months) [...].

History of induced abortion and the risk of preterm birth: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To explore the relationship between a history of induced abortion and follow-up preterm birth.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 27,176 women aged 19 to 48 years old in the city of Dongguan. Participants were divided into two groups according to the history of induced abortion. We used log-binomial regression to estimate adjusted risk ratios of preterm birth (gestation at less than 37 weeks) and early preterm birth (gestation at less than 34 weeks) for women with a history of induced abortion. Four models adjusted for different baseline data were used to verify the stability of the results. We also performed a subgroup analysis and mediation effect analysis to control for the influence of confounding factors and analyzed the relationship between the number of abortions and subsequent preterm birth.

RESULTS

Our study included 2,985 women who had undergone a prior induced abortion. Women who reported having a prior induced abortion were more likely to have preterm births before 37 weeks and 34 weeks, with risk ratios of 1.18 (95% CI 1.02-1.36) and 1.65 (95% CI 1.23-2.21), respectively. The above associations were stable in all models. We also found that a history of induced abortion was independently associated with a higher risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth in the subgroups. After controlling for the indirect effect of demographic data, the direct effect of abortion history on follow-up preterm delivery was still significantly different. The higher the number of abortions, the greater the risk of subsequent preterm birth.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that induced abortion increases the risk of subsequent preterm birth.

The effect of hepatitis B virus on the risk of pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

BACKGROUND

The effect of HBV on neonatal and maternal outcomes can create a basis for more accurate clinical decision-making. So, the aim of this meta-analysis is to detrmine the effect of chronic hepatitis B virus on the risk of pregnancy outcomes by combining cohort studies.

METHODS

International databases in this meta-analysis included the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), SPORT Discuss via the EBSCO interface, PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, which were searched up to April 2023. All cohort studies reporting the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were included in the study. The quality assessment was done based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Finally, thirty-five cohort studies were selected for meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest included pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, abortion, preterm birth, infant death, and other related outcomes. Results showed that the pooled RR for incident gestational diabetes in pregnant women with choronic hepatitis B infection was 1.16 (RR: 1.16; 95% CI 1.13-1.18; I-square: 92.89%; P value: 0.00). Similarly, the association between the presence of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia was 1.10 (RR: 1.10; 95% CI 1.04-1.16; I-square: 92.06%; P value: 0.00). The risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women with hepatitis B infection was 1.17 times that of pregnant women without hepatitis B infection (RR: 1.17; 95% CI 1.14-1.20; I-squared: 94.32%; P value: 0.00).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis found that hepatitis B infection during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia. However, confirmation of this association, as well as the specific biological pathways involved in the association between HBV infection and pregnancy outcomes, requires further investigation.

Association of Fine Particulate Matter and Its Components with Macrosomia: A Nationwide Birth Cohort Study of 336 Chinese Cities

To examine the associations between macrosomia risk and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical components during pregnancy, we collected birth records between 2010 and 2015 in mainland China from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project and used satellite-based models to estimate concentrations of PM2.5 mass and five main components, namely, black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), and ammonium (NH4+). Associations between macrosomia risk and prenatal exposure to PM2.5 were examined by logistic regression analysis, and the sensitive subgroups were explored by stratified analyses. Of the 3,248,263 singleton newborns from 336 cities, 165,119 (5.1%) had macrosomia. Each interquartile range increase in concentration of PM2.5 during the entire pregnancy was associated with increased risk of macrosomia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-1.20). Among specific components, the largest effect estimates were found on NO3- (OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.35-1.38) followed by OC (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.22-1.24), NH4+ (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.21-1.23), and BC (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20-1.22). We also that found boys, women with a normal or lower prepregnancy body mass index, and women with irregular or no folic acid supplementation experienced higher risk of macrosomia associated with PM2.5 exposure.

Assessment of Prior Infection With Hepatitis B Virus and Fecundability in Couples Planning Pregnancy

IMPORTANCE

The association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with reduced fecundability among reproductive-aged couples lacks large-population, in-depth study evidence.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of HBV infection with time to pregnancy in couples planning pregnancy, and to explore whether this association varied by gravidity, health statuses, or lifestyles.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a population-based cohort study of Chinese couples participating in the National Free Preconception Check-up Projects during 2015 to 2017. They were planning pregnancy and were followed-up every 3 months until getting pregnant, as confirmed by gynecologic ultrasonography, or were followed-up for 1 year. Data were analyzed between March 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was time to pregnancy, assessed using fecundability hazard ratios (HRs). The Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of HBV infection with fecundability.

RESULTS

Among 2 419 848 couples (mean [SD] age, 27.87 [5.20] years for women and 29.58 [5.50] years for men), 126 728 women (5.24%) and 156 572 men (6.47%) were infected with HBV. Compared with the HBV-negative group, the fecundability of both women and men in the HBV-positive group decreased by 5% (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.94-0.95). Compared with couples in which both partners were HBV negative, the fecundability of those in which both partners were HBV positive declined by 6% (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93-0.96) among all couples, by 3% (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99) among nulligravidas couples, and by 7% (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.95) among multigravidas couples. Both the female-male and couple models suggested that the association of HBV infection with decreased fecundability was more pronounced in couples with multigravidas. The negative association was greater in people with overweight and obesity and was inconsistent in certain subgroups; in particular, it was more pronounced in women with reproductive tract infections, normal fasting plasma glucose, and no alcohol intake and in men with normal blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this population-based cohort study, HBV infection was associated with decreased fecundability in a general reproductive-aged population, especially in couples with multigravidas. For women and men with certain health statuses and lifestyles, a comprehensive consideration of this association is recommended to provide personalized fertility guidance.

Gestational Viral Infections: Role of Host Immune System

Viral infections in pregnancy are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Infections can develop in the neonate transplacentally, perinatally, or postnatally (from breast milk or other sources) and lead to different clinical manifestations, depending on the viral agent and the gestational age at exposure. Viewing the peculiar tolerogenic status which characterizes pregnancy, viruses could exploit this peculiar immunological status to spread or affect the maternal immune system, adopting several evasion strategies. In fact, both DNA and RNA virus might have a deep impact on both innate and acquired immune systems. For this reason, investigating the interaction with these pathogens and the host's immune system during pregnancy is crucial not only for the development of most effective therapies and diagnosis but mostly for prevention. In this review, we will analyze some of the most important DNA and RNA viruses related to gestational infections.

Maternal plasma and salivary anelloviruses in pregnancy and preterm birth

Introduction

Human anelloviruses, including torque teno virus (TTV) and torque teno mini virus (TTMV), are ubiquitous in the general population and have no known pathogenicity. We investigated the prevalence and viral load of TTV and TTMV in plasma and saliva over pregnancy, and assessed their association with spontaneous or medically indicated preterm birth.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the Measurement of Maternal Stress (MOMS) study, which recruited 744 individuals with singleton pregnancies from 4 US sites (Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, and rural Pennsylvania). Baseline outpatient visits took place in the second trimester (between 12'0 and 20'6/7  weeks' gestation), and follow-up visits in the third trimester (between 32'0 and 35'6/7  weeks' gestation). In a case-control study design, participants who delivered preterm (<37 weeks) resulting from spontaneous labor and/or preterm premature rupture of membranes ("sPTB") were compared with participants experiencing medically indicated preterm birth ("iPTB"), or delivery at term ("controls"). Plasma and saliva samples obtained during the second and third trimesters were tested for the presence and quantity of TTV and TTMV using real-time PCR. Demographic data were obtained via self-report, and clinical data via medical record review by trained research personnel.

Results

TTV was detected in plasma from 81% (second trimester) and 77% (third trimester) of participants, and in saliva from 64 and 60%. Corresponding detection rates for TTMV were 59 and 41% in plasma, and 35 and 24% in saliva. TTV and TTMV concentrations were similar between matched plasma and saliva samples. TTV prevalence and concentrations were not significantly different between groups (sPTB, iPTB, and controls). However, plasma TTMV in the third trimester was associated with sPTB and earlier gestational age at delivery. The iPTB group was not different from either the sPTB or the control group. In saliva, concentrations of TTV and TTMV were similar among the three groups. Both TTV and TTMV were more prevalent with increasing parity and were more common in Black and Hispanic participants compared to non-Hispanic White participants.

Conclusion

Anellovirus presence (specifically, TTMV) in the third trimester may be associated with preterm birth. Whether this association is causative remains to be determined.

Association between season of conception, month of conception with preterm birth in China: a population-based retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Seasonal patterns of preterm birth were identified in previous studies, but the effect of conception season on preterm birth has not been extensively studied. Based on the notion that the etiological roots of preterm birth lie in the beginning of pregnancy, we did a population-based retrospective cohort study in Southwest China to examine the effects of season of conception and month of conception on preterm birth.

METHODS

We did a population-based retrospective cohort study in women (aged 18-49) who participated in the NFPHEP from 2010 to 2018, and had a singleton livebirth in southwest China. According to the time of the last menstruation reported by the participants, month of conception and season of conception were then ascertained. We used multivariate log-binomial model to adjust the potential risk factors for preterm birth and obtained adjusted risk ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for conception season, conception month and preterm birth.

RESULTS

Among 194 028 participants, 15 034 women had preterm birth. Compared with pregnancies that were conceived in the summer, pregnancies that were conceived in the spring, autumn and winter had the higher risk of preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15; Autumn: aRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20; Winter: aRR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.22-1.34) and also had a higher risk of early preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18; Autumn: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19; Winter: aRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25). Pregnancies in December, and January had a higher risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth than pregnancies that were conceived in July.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that preterm birth was significantly related to season of conception. Preterm and early preterm birth rates were the highest among pregnancies that were conceived in winter, and the lowest among pregnancies in summer.

Maternal Preconception Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk of Congenital Heart Diseases in Offspring Among Chinese Women Aged 20 to 49 Years

Importance

Maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during early pregnancy has been related to congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. However, no study to date has evaluated the association of maternal preconception HBV infection with CHDs in offspring.

Objective

To explore the association of maternal preconception HBV infection with CHDs in offspring.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study used nearest-neighbor (1:4) propensity score matching of 2013 to 2019 data from the National Free Preconception Checkup Project (NFPCP), a national free health service for childbearing-aged women who plan to conceive throughout mainland China. Women aged 20 to 49 years who got pregnant within 1 year after preconception examination were included, and those with multiple births were excluded. Data were analyzed from September to December 2022.

Exposures

Maternal preconception HBV infection statuses, including uninfected, previous, and new infection.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was CHDs, which were prospectively collected from the birth defect registration card of the NFPCP. Logistic regression with robust error variances was used to estimate the association between maternal preconception HBV infection status and CHD risk in offspring, after adjusting for confounding variables.

Results

After matching with a 1:4 ratio, there were 3 690 427 participants included in the final analysis, where 738 945 women were infected with HBV, including 393 332 women with previous infection and 345 613 women with new infection. Approximately 0.03% (800 of 2 951 482) of women uninfected with HBV preconception and women newly infected with HBV carried an infant with CHDs, whereas 0.04% (141 of 393 332) of women with HBV infection prior to pregnancy carried an infant with CHDs. After multivariable adjustment, women with HBV infection prior to pregnancy had a higher risk of CHDs in offspring compared with women who were uninfected (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02-1.49). Moreover, compared with couples who were uninfected with HBV prior to pregnancy (680 of 2 610 968 [0.026%]), previously infected women with uninfected men (93 of 252 919 [0.037%]) or previously infected men with uninfected women (43 of 95 735 [0.045%]) had a higher incidence of CHDs in offspring and were significantly associated with a higher risk of CHDs in offspring (previously infected women with uninfected men: aRR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.69; previously infected men with uninfected women: aRR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09-2.09) with multivariable adjustment, while no significant association was observed between maternal new HBV infection and CHDs in offspring.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this matched retrospective cohort study, maternal preconception previous HBV infection was significantly associated with CHDs in offspring. Moreover, among women with HBV-uninfected husbands, significantly increased risk of CHDs was also observed in previously infected women prior to pregnancy. Consequently, HBV screening and getting HBV vaccination-induced immunity for couples prior to pregnancy are indispensable, and those with previous HBV infection prior to pregnancy should also be taken seriously to decrease the CHDs risk in offspring.

Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization in China: A nationwide longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization is unknown. We aim to assess the long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization in China.

METHODS

Between Jan 2017 and Dec 2021, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal study using routinely collected data on health services utilization in the National Health Information System of China. We extracted national and provincial data of demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics, and health resources. Interrupted time-series segmented negative binominal regression models were used.

RESULTS

A total of 34.2 billion health facilities visits and 1.1 billion inpatients discharged were included. The largest negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health services utilization was during containment period, that health facility visits were observed 32% reduction in hospitals (adjusted incidence risk ratios [aRRs] 0.68, 95%CI: 0.50-0.92), 27% reduction in community health centers (aRR 0.73, 95%CI: 0.57-0.93), and 22% reduction township centers (aRR 0.78, 95%CI: 0.67-0.91), respectively. The impact on health facility visits and inpatients discharged were reduced and eliminated over time (all p>0.05). However, the negative impact on utilization rate of beds, average length of stay, average inpatient costs, and average outpatient costs in different level of health facilities still existed two years later (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization was largest during containment period and reduced over time, but it still existed two years later. There are disparities in the recovery of health services. Our findings highlighted the importance of maintaining primary healthcare services during the pandemic and strengthen resilient health system on the rapid recovery of medical services.

Investigating continuation of folic acid supplementation during peri-conceptional period: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Maternal folate may not reach an optimal level to prevent neural tube defects if supplementation commenced post-conception or took place pre-conception only. Our study aimed to investigate the continuation of folic acid (FA) supplementation from pre-conception to post-conception during peri-conceptional period and to examine its differences in FA supplementation between the subgroups taking the initiation timing into consideration.

METHODS

This study was conducted in two community health service centers in Jing-an District of Shanghai. Women accompanying their children to pediatric health clinics of the centers were recruited and asked to recall information concerning their socioeconomic and previous obstetric characteristics, utilization of healthcare and FA supplementation before and/or during pregnancy. The continuation of FA supplementation during peri-conceptional period were categorized into three subgroups: Supplementing with FA pre- and post-conception; supplementing with FA preconception only or post-conception only; no FA supplements pre-conception and post-conception. The relationship between FA continuation and couples' characteristics were examined as setting the first subgroup as the base reference.

RESULTS

Three hundred and ninety-six women were recruited. Over 40% of the women started FA supplementation after conception and 30.3% of them supplemented with FA from pre-conception to the first trimester of their pregnancy. Compared to this one-third of participants, women who didn't supplemented with any FA during peri-conceptional period were more likely to have no utilization of pre-conception healthcare ([Formula: see text]= 2.47, 95% [Formula: see text]: 1.33-4.61) or antenatal care ([Formula: see text]= 4.05, 95% [Formula: see text]: 1.76-9.34), or who had a lower family socioeconomic status ([Formula: see text]= 4.36, 95% [Formula: see text]: 1.79-10.64). Women who supplemented with FA pre-conception only or post-conception only were more likely to have no utilization of pre-conception healthcare ([Formula: see text]= 2.94, 95% [Formula: see text]: 1.79-4.82), or to have no previous pregnancy complication ([Formula: see text]=1.80, 95% [Formula: see text]: 0.99-3.28).

CONCLUSION

Over two-fifth of the women started FA supplementation and only one-third of them had an optimal supplementation from pre-conception to the first trimester. Maternal utilization of healthcare before or during pregnancy together with maternal and paternal socioeconomic status may play a role in the continuation to FA supplementation pre- and post-conception.

Prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and D virus infection in Haiti: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Viral hepatitis causes an important global health burden. In 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted an objective to globally eliminate this as a public health threat by 2030. However, significant gaps exist between countries in their progress. Haiti is the last country that has introduced infant hepatitis B vaccines into the routine immunization program in the Region of the Americas, and its schedule still does not incorporate birth dose vaccines. As the first step to raise awareness of viral hepatitis in this country, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV), and D (HDV) viruses in Haiti.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus for studies reporting the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HDV among Haitian, with no language restriction, published until November 30th, 2021. Prevalence was pooled via a random-effects meta-analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with the logit link.

Results

Of 453 articles retrieved, 25 studies were included: 16 reported the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), three for anti-HCV antibody, and six for both HBsAg and anti-HCV. No study was found for HDV prevalence. The pooled prevalence of HBsAg was 0.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3-1.4, I ² = 77.7%] among children, 3.5% (95% CI: 2.8-4.4, I ² = 93.2%) in the general adult population and 7.4% (95% CI: 4.0-13.3, I ² = 83.9%) in high-risk adult population. The pooled prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6-1.4, I ² = 93.5%) among the general population and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.4-4.2, I ² = 0.0%) in high-risk adult population. No study reported the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody exclusively in children.

Interpretation

The prevalence of blood-borne hepatitis, particularly that of HBV, is substantial in Haiti. The introduction of birth dose hepatitis B vaccines and improving access to testing and treatment services should be urgently considered to meet the elimination goal.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022298081, identifier: PROSPERO (CRD42022298081).

Management Algorithm for Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (2022)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal of eliminating hepatitis as a threat to public health by 2030. Blocking mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is not only the key to eliminating viral hepatitis, but also a hot issue in the field of hepatitis B prevention and treatment. To standardize the clinical management of preventing MTCT of HBV and achieve zero HBV infection among infants, the Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control organized experts to compile a management algorithm for prevention of MTCT of HBV based on the latest research progress and guidelines, including 10 steps of pregnancy management and postpartum follow-up, among which screening, antiviral treatment, and infant immunization are its core components.

Promoter methylation changes in the placenta involved in the relationship between prenatal depression and small for gestational age

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) birth related to maternal depression, but the mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the changes of promoter methylation in the placenta which may be involved in the relationship between prenatal depression and SGA.

METHODS

Three hundred forty-five pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Perinatal emotion and sleep quality in the second and third trimesters were assessed using self-rating depression scale, self-rating anxiety scale, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index. According to the exposure (depressed emotion of mother) and outcome (SGA), the placentas were divided into four groups. Methylation of the promoter regions of the placental CRH, HSD11β2, SLA16A10, DIO3, and MTNR1B genes was determined using next generation sequencing based on bisulfite sequencing PCR.

RESULTS

There were 97 (28.1%) and 95 (27.5%) pregnant women who had depression in the second trimester and third trimester, respectively. Thirty-five pregnant women had an SGA birth. The incidence of SGA births in this prospective cohort was 10.1%. The risk factors of SGA birth were low BMI of pregnancy women (RR = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.54 ~ 0.92), hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP, RR = 4.7, 95%CI = 1.18 ~ 18.72), and maternal depression in the second trimester (RR = 3.71, 95%CI = 1.31 ~ 12.16). We found that the CRH and HSD11β2 methylation levels were higher in the depression group than those in the non-depression group. Methylation levels of DIO3 were higher in SGA group than that in the non-SGA group. Higher methylation levels of CRH correlated with higher methylation levels of DIO3 in the placenta.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal depression in the second trimester may lead to the changes of methylation levels in the promoter region of CRH and HSD11β2 gene, while the changes of methylation of DIO3 in subsequent could related to SGA. This study suggests that maternal depressed emotion during pregnancy may result in SGA due to the epigenetic changes of placenta.

Viral hepatitis in pregnancy

Viral hepatitis is caused by a heterogenous group of viral agents representing a wide range of phylogenetic groups. Many viruses can involve the liver and cause liver injury but only a subset are delineated as 'hepatitis viruses' based upon their primary site of replication and tropism for hepatocytes which make up the bulk of the liver cell population. Since their discovery, beginning with the agent that caused serum hepatitis in the 1960s, the alphabetic designations have been utilized. To date, we have five hepatitis viruses, A through E, though it is postulated that others may exist. This chapter will focus on those viruses. Note that hepatitis D is included as a subset of hepatitis B, as it cannot exist without concurrent hepatitis B infection. Pregnancy has the potential to affect all aspects of these viral agents due to the unique immunologic and physiologic changes that occur during and after the gestational period. In this review, we will discuss the most common viral hepatitis and their effects during pregnancy.

Brief Report: Impact of Antiretroviral Regimen on Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes in Women With HIV/ HBV Coinfection

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the impact of antenatal antiretroviral regimens (ARV) on pregnancy and infant outcomes in HIV/HBV coinfection. We compared outcomes among 3 antenatal antiretroviral regimens for pregnant women with HIV/HBV.

METHODS

The PROMISE study enrolled ARV-naive pregnant women with HIV. Women with HBV were randomized to (no anti-HBV)-zidovudine (ZDV) + intrapartum nevirapine and 1 week of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF-FTC); (3TC)-3TC + ZDV + LPV/r; or (FTC-TDF)-FTC + TDF + LPV/r. Pairwise group comparisons were performed with Fisher exact, t , or log rank tests. Adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) was a composite of low birth weight, preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or congenital anomaly.

RESULTS

Of 138 women with HIV/HBV, 42, 48, and 48 were analyzed in the no anti-HBV, 3TC, and FTC-TDF arms. Median age was 27 years. APOs trended lower in the no anti-HBV (26%) vs 3TC (38%), and FTC-TDF arms (35%), P ≥ 0.25). More infant deaths occurred among the FTC-TDF [6 (13%)] vs no anti-HBV [2 (5%)] and 3TC [3 (7%)] arms. There were no differences in time-to-death, HIV-free survival, birth or one-year WHO Z-score length-for-age, and head circumference. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was associated with an increased risk of APO, 48% vs 27% (odds ratio 2.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.19 to 6.67, post hoc ).

CONCLUSION

With HBV/HIV coinfection, the risk of an APO was increased with maternal ARV compared with ZDV alone, although the differences were not statistically significant. Maternal HBeAg was associated with a significantly increased risk of APO. Infant mortality was highest with FTC + TDF + LPV/r. Early assessment of HBeAg could assist in identifying high-risk pregnancies for close monitoring.

Ethnic differences in preterm birth in Southwest China, 2014-2018: A population-based observational study

Objective

Preterm birth is a major healthcare problem and has been rising gradually in the past three decades in China. Yet the ethnic differences in the rates and distributions of preterm birth remain largely unknown in China. This study used data from Yunnan, a multiethnic province, to explore the differences in preterm birth across ethnicities.

Methods

A population-based observational study was conducted based on data from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in rural Yunnan from Jan 1, 2014 to Dec 31, 2018. Pregnancies with at least one livebirth were included in this study. We estimated the rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall preterm birth (born &lt; 37 weeks’ gestation), moderate to late preterm birth (born between 32 and &lt;37 weeks’ gestation), very preterm birth (born between 28 and 31 weeks’ gestation), and extremely preterm birth (born &lt; 28 weeks’ gestation) across maternal ethnicity and compared them using log-binomial regressions. Multivariable log-binomial regressions were used to assess the association between maternal ethnicity and preterm birth with adjustment for potential confounders, including year of delivery, maternal age at delivery, education, occupation, pre-pregnancy body mass index, history of chronic disease, history of preterm birth, smoking and drinking alcohol during early pregnancy, and parity and multiple pregnancy of current pregnancy.

Results

Among 195,325 women who delivered at least one live baby, 7.90% (95% CI, 7.78–8.02%) were born preterm. The rates of moderate to late preterm birth, very preterm birth, and extremely preterm birth were 6.20% (95% CI, 6.09–6.30%), 1.18% (95% CI, 1.13–1.23%), and 0.52% (95% CI, 0.49–0.56%), respectively. The rates of overall preterm birth, moderate to late preterm birth, very preterm birth, and extremely preterm birth differed across maternal ethnicity. The preterm birth rates in Dai (10.73%), Miao (13.23%), Lisu (12.64%), Zhuang (11.77%), Wa (10.52%), and Lagu (12.34%) women were significantly higher than that in Han women, and the adjusted relative risks were 1.45 [95% CI, 1.36, 1.54], 1.74 (95% CI, 1.62, 1.86), 1.60 (95% CI, 1.47, 1.75), 1.60 (95% CI, 1.46, 1.75), 1.40 (95% CI, 1.22, 1.60), and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.50, 1.87) respectively. There was no difference in preterm birth rate between Han women and Hani, Bai, or Hui women.

Conclusion

This study found notable differences in the rates of preterm birth and its sub-categories across maternal ethnicities, which were especially higher in ethnic minority women. The findings suggest that greater efforts to reduce ethnic inequalities in preterm birth. Future studies are warranted to understand the drivers of ethnic inequalities in preterm birth in China.

Pharmacological approaches to prevent vertical transmission of HIV and HBV

INTRODUCTION

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is mainly responsible for the global pediatric HIV and HBV epidemic. Vertical transmission can be prevented and reduced through a series of interventions at the primary healthcare level, including extensive screening of pregnant women, administration of antivirals or immune-based treatments, counselling on type of delivery and breastfeeding.

AREAS COVERED

In this narrative review, approved therapeutic options for the treatment of pregnant women living with HIV or HBV are discussed with special focus on efficacy and safety profiles of each agent or drug class examined. The search was performed using Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify studies assessing vertical transmission of both HIV and HBV.

EXPERT OPINION

Elimination of MTCT of both infections is firmly endorsed by major global commitments and the integration of tailored preventive interventions into maternal and newborn health services is of strategical importance to achieve this critical target. However, further research centered on antiviral-based and immunization trials among pregnant women is urgently needed to mitigate the risk of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes, effectively prevent transmission to the offspring and finally eliminate the pediatric HIV and HBV epidemic, one of the key global health challenges of our time.

Relationship between viral load and pregnancy outcomes among hepatitis B carriers

OBJECTIVE

Pregnant hepatitis B carriers may have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Current evidences are conflicting regarding the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and various pregnancy complications, owing to the inclusion of women with different viral activity. This study is to evaluate the relationship between hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status/HBV DNA level and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant hepatitis B carriers in Hong Kong.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study carried out in Hong Kong between 2014 and 2016. Pregnant HBV carriers were recruited. HBeAg was tested. HBV DNA level was quantified at 28-30 weeks of gestation. The rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM), preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia and mode of delivery were recorded.

RESULTS

679 pregnancies were analyzed. 23.3% of women were seropositive for HBeAg. The mean viral load (SD) at 28-30 weeks of gestation was 3.6 (2.5) log₁₀IU/ml. No statistically significant differences were found in the rates of GDM, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, PPROM, preterm birth, LBW, macrosomia and mode of delivery among women with different viral load levels (≤2 log₁₀IU/ml, 2.01-6 log₁₀IU/ml and >6 log₁₀IU/ml). Positive maternal HBeAg status was not associated with pregnancy complications compared to seronegative women.

CONCLUSION

Seropositive HBeAg status or a higher level of HBV DNA during pregnancy did not pose a significant negative impact to the pregnancy outcomes.

Preconception reproductive tract infections status and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a population-based retrospective cohort study

Background

Reproductive tract infections can cause serious adverse outcomes for pregnant women such as spontaneous abortion and preterm birth. However, it is unclear whether maternal reproductive tract infection before pregnancy would also be related to any adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to investigate the association of maternal preconception reproductive tract infections with subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Chongqing Municipality of China between April 2010 and December 2016. A total of 57,586 women (57,708 pregnancies) from all 39 counties of Chongqing who participated in the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project were included. They all took preconception examinations for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis before pregnancy within one year. Primary outcomes included spontaneous abortion (< 28 weeks gestation), preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation), macrosomia and low birthweight.

Results

Of the 57,708 pregnancies, 2438 (4.22%) had at least one type of reproductive tract infections. Compared with women who were not infected with any reproductive tract infection before pregnancy, women with reproductive tract infections had a higher rate of spontaneous abortion (7.88% vs. 5.62%, p < 0.001). After analyzing by each infection, there were few significant associations between pre-pregnancy infections and adverse outcomes. Preconception syphilis infection was significantly associated with increased odds of spontaneous abortion (aOR = 2.07, 95%CI 1.50–2.85), induced abortion/labour due to medical reasons (aOR = 1.60, 95%CI 1.01–2.54) and preterm birth (aOR = 1.60, 95%CI 1.12–2.30) after adjusting for potential confounders. Preconception trichomoniasis was intended to relate to a higher risk of spontaneous abortion (aOR = 1.65, 95%CI 1.01–2.71), but its impact seemed to be attributed to its co-infection with other RTIs. Women who were chlamydia or bacterial vaginosis positive before pregnancy showed higher odds of macrosomia (aOR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.07–3.74 for chlamydia; aOR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.06–2.34 for bacterial vaginosis). Preconception bacterial vaginosis might also be associated with higher risks of very preterm birth (aOR = 2.16, 95%CI 1.23–3.78) and large for gestational age (aOR = 1.36, 95%CI 1.02–1.81).

Conclusions

Women with infections of the genital tract before pregnancy might also have increased risks of subsequent adverse outcomes including spontaneous abortion, preterm birth and macrosomia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04836-3.

The impact of biparental hepatitis B virus infection on pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the association between biparental hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] seropositivity) and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, including clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR).

METHODS

We searched various literature databases from the earliest date available until May 20, 2021, including PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, and Wangfang. Four patterns of biparental HBV infection for pregnancy outcomes following ART were synthesized separately by using random-effects model. We also performed subgroup analyses (matched or unmatched) and two forms of sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 25 retrospective cohort studies, involving more than 19,269 couples, were included. Maternal and paternal HBV co-infection (crude relative risk [cRR]: 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-1.23), either maternal or paternal infection (cRR: 1.05, 0.88-1.24), maternal HBV infection alone (cRR: 0.96, 0.79-1.16), or paternal HBV infection alone (cRR: 1.02, 0.91-1.13) were not associated with significant reductions in CPR at per woman level. These patterns of infection were also not significantly associated with decreased LBR at per woman level. However, paternal HBV infection alone reduced CPR (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 0.33-0.86) and LBR (cRR: 0.52, 0.28-0.99) at per cycle level. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were mostly consistent with the primary results.

CONCLUSIONS

Paternal HBV infection alone probably decrease CPR after ART at per cycle level. However, maternal HBV infection was not associated with reductions in CPR and LBR in women undergoing ART at per woman level.

Less Social Participation Is Associated With a Higher Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults: A Community-Based Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the association between social participation and depressive symptoms among Chinese older people aged 65 years or above to supplement limited studies in China on this topic.

METHODS

This community-based longitudinal prospective cohort study used the data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS, baseline in 2014 and a follow-up in 2018). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Social participation was assessed using a composite index by considering the frequency for the two types of social activity: organized social activities and informal activities. Pearson's χ² test was used to correlate the characteristics of participants with social participation or depressive symptoms. Log-binomial regression models were used to assess the association between social participation and the risk of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The incidence of depressive symptoms was 28.8% among 2,200 participants in 2018 after a 4-year follow-up. Participants with no social participation (32.6%), organized social activities (30.6%), or informal social activities (31.2%) were more likely to have depressive symptoms. After the adjustment of demographic factors, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and health status, in comparison with older people who often engaged in social participation, organized social activities, and informal social activities, the risk of depressive symptoms was 45% [adjusted risk ratio (aRR): 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.82], 42% (aRR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02-2.00), and 29% (aRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99) higher among older people with no social participation and who never engaged in organized social activities and informal social activities, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the lack of social participation, including organized social activities and informal social activities, was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms after 4 years among older adults in China. Our findings shed lights into the feasibility of promoting social participation to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms and promote longevity and healthy aging among older adults.

Proteomic Profiling of Maternal Serum for Early Risk Analysis of Preterm Birth

Background:

The absence of absolute clinical indicators and suitable biomarkers hinders the timely diagnosis of women at risk of preterm birth. It influences roughly 12% of births. At delivery and clinical presentation, preterm births are generally inspected based on the gestational period. Different disturbed pathways are associated with the signs of at-risk pregnancies.

Objective:

The main purpose of this study is to analyze and explore the serum proteome of early deliveries and help health care professionals to improve the understanding of the progression of preterm birth.

Methods:

In the present study, 200 pregnant females of 20-30 years of age were selected. We collected samples of second and third-trimester pregnant females, out of which 40 females delivered preterm. We further divided them into three groups, i.e., extremely preterm group, very preterm, and controls. Overall comparison of serum profiles of all the three groups expressing fourteen proteins ranging between 200-10kDa was made. Serum proteins were isolated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and photographed by totalLab quant software. Groups were evaluated using the ANOVA Tukey’s Post Hoc analysis.

Results:

Proteins of 69kDa and 15kDa expressed a significant decrease when compared with control subjects. In contrast, the proteins of 23kDa expressed a significant increase, while the proteins of 77kDa, 45kDa, and 25kDa demonstrated no considerable variation.

Conclusion:

The serum proteins showing significant difference as compared to the control group will serve as predictive biomarkers for at-risk pregnancies. The present study is expected to considerably improve the understanding of the disease pathogenesis along with improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches leading to better management of pregnancy and reducing the risk of preterm birth.

The cell‐free DNA virome of 108,349 Dutch pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

Viral infections during pregnancy are a major health concern to mother and fetus. By repurposing cell-free Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) sequencing data, we investigated prevalence and abundance of viral DNA in a cohort of 108,349 pregnant women.

METHOD

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing reads that did not map to any of the human chromosomes or mitochondrial DNA of the human reference genome build GRCh38 were aligned to 224 DNA viruses selected from the NCBI refseq viral database.

RESULTS

In total 443,665 reads of viral origin were detected across 42,273 samples representing 165 viral species. Several are known to be potentially harmful during pregnancy and/or childbirth, including Cytomegalovirus, Parvovirus B19 and Hepatitis B. Viral sequences were mostly detected at very low abundance. However, several cases had exceptionally high viral loads for Parvovirus B19, Hepatitis B and others. We found statistically significant associations between presence of viral DNA and gestational age, maternal age, fetal fraction, cfDNA concentration and others.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate the feasibility to detect viral DNA from typical genome-wide NIPT cfDNA sequencing and describe the main characteristics of the viral DNA in our cohort. Our dataset of detected viral sequence reads is made publicly available to guide future clinical implementations.

Paternal smoking and preterm birth: a population-based retrospective cohort study among non-smoking women aged 20-49 years in rural China

Background

To comprehensively evaluate the association of paternal smoking and preterm birth (PTB).

Methods

We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study in rural areas of China among 5,298,043 reproductive-aged couples who participated in the National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkups Project (NFPCP), regarding outcome events that occurred in 2010–2016. Multivariate Cox proportional regression was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confident intervals (95%CI), and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to estimate the dose–response relationship.

Results

Compared to neither-smoker couples, the fully adjusted HR for PTB was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.03–1.04), 1.08 (0.96–1.22), and 1.11 (1.03–1.19) in the couples where only the female smoked, only the male smoked and both, respectively. HR of PTB for paternal smoking was 1.07 (1.06–1.07), compared with women without paternal smoking. Consistent with paternal smoking, preconception paternal smoking showed 1.07-fold higher risk of PTB (95%CI, 1.06–1.09). The multivariable-adjusted HRs of PTB were 1.05 (1.03–1.06), 1.04 (1.03–1.05), 1.05 (1.04–1.07), 1.07 (1.05–1.10) and 1.13 (1.12–1.14) for participants whose husband smoked 1–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, and ≥ 20 cigarettes/day respectively, compared with participants without paternal smoking. The HRs of PTB also increased with the increment of paternal smoking and preconception paternal smoking categories (P_linear < 0.05).

Conclusions

Paternal smoking and preconception paternal smoking was independently positively associated with PTB risk. The importance of tobacco control, should be emphasized during preconception and pregnancy counselling should be towards not only women but also their husband.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-022-01378-x.

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as other system immaturity problem. But as one of important environmental tobacco smoking sources of maternal secondhand smoking in the family, paternal smoking is worthy for deep exploring of its potential impacts on PTB. Moreover, evidence on the independent role of preconception paternal smoking is still lacking. Thus, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to evaluate the association between paternal smoking and risk of PTB among among 5,298,043 reproductive-aged couples who participated in the National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkups Project (NFPCP), regarding outcome events that occurred in 2010–2016.

We found a significant association between paternal smoking and PTB. Smoking reduction should not only be advised to pregnant women but also to their partners to reduce PTB in their fetal. In addition, supporting patients to continue smoking reduction will be crucial when considering the adverse health outcome of smoking. Intervention of tobacco use before and during pregnancy, are critical for prevention of PTB. Avoiding both maternal and paternal smoking during pregnancy will benefit the developing fetus.

Ethnic Disparities in Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among 1 Million Reproductive-Age Couples Preparing for Pregnancy in the Rural Yunnan, China: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and China has the largest disease burden. We aim to understand the ethnic disparities in HBV infection among the married reproductive-age couples planning for pregnancy in Yunnan, a multiethnic province in Southwest China, to increase the health equities within the hepatitis response in China.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study was performed. Couples aged 20-49 years in rural Yunnan were enrolled through the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project from Jan 2014 to Dec 2019. HBsAg-positive couples were defined as couples in which one or both were HBsAg-positive, and HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive couples were defined as couples in which one or both were HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive. The HBV prevalence of positive couples was estimated by ethnicity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between ethnicity and HBsAg status.

RESULTS

Overall, 63,513 of 1,060,643 couples (5.99%, 95% CI, 5.94%-6.03%) were HBsAg-positive, and 15,898 of 63,513 HBsAg-positive couples (25.03%, 95% CI 24.69%-25.37%) were HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive couples in rural Yunnan. The highest prevalence of HBsAg-positive couples was in the Miao and Miao ethnicity (12.04%) and Zhuang and Zhuang ethnicity (9.76%), and the risk of HBV infection of wives/husbands in these ethnic groups was significantly higher than that in the Han and Han ethnicity. Additionally, the HBsAg prevalence in wives/husbands has increased with the positive status of HBsAg and HBeAg of their spouses.

CONCLUSION

The HBV prevalence in reproductive-age couples was intermediate (6% of 1 million couples) in rural Yunnan, China, with the highest in the Miao and Zhuang ethnicities. There are still large ethnic disparities in HBV infection in China. Therefore, China should make great efforts, especially giving priority to ethnic minorities and taking positive couples as an important unit of care, to equitably eliminate the HBV intrafamilial transmission.

Clinically relevant DNA viruses in pregnancy

Infections by DNA viruses during pregnancy are associated with increased health risks to both mother and fetus. Although not all DNA viruses are related to an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, several can directly infect the fetus and/or cause placental dysfunction. During NIPT analysis, the presence of viral DNA can be detected, theoretically allowing screening early in pregnancy. Although treatment options are currently limited, this might rapidly change in the near future. It is therefore important to be aware of the potential impact of these viruses on feto-maternal health. In this manuscript we provide a brief introduction into the most commonly detected DNA viruses in human cell-free DNA sequencing experiments and their pathogenic potential during pregnancy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Viral Infections During Pregnancy: The Big Challenge Threatening Maternal and Fetal Health

Viral infections during pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal and fetal mortality, pregnancy loss, premature labor, and congenital anomalies. Mammalian gestation encounters an immunological paradox wherein the placenta balances the tolerance of an allogeneic fetus with protection against pathogens. Viruses cannot easily transmit from mother to fetus due to physical and immunological barriers at the maternal-fetal interface posing a restricted threat to the fetus and newborns. Despite this, the unknown strategies utilized by certain viruses could weaken the placental barrier to trigger severe maternal and fetal health issues especially through vertical transmission, which was not fully understood until now. In this review, we summarize diverse aspects of the major viral infections relevant to pregnancy, including the characteristics of pathogenesis, related maternal-fetal complications, and the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of vertical transmission. We highlight the fundamental signatures of complex placental defense mechanisms, which will prepare us to fight the next emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in the pregnancy population.

Obstetric implications of maternal chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Antenatal screening for hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity is widely adopted to identify pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in order to target their newborn infants for combined passive-active neonatal immunization to prevent the maternal-to-child transmission of HBV. It is less certain whether the presence of chronic HBV infection in these largely asymptomatic women could impact their pregnancy outcome. There is now gathering information in the literature, though sometimes conflicting, on the obstetric implications of chronic HBV infection. The conflicting data is most probably related to confounding factors such as the immunological phase of chronic HBV infection, viral genotype and activity, presence of hepatic inflammation and other co-existing liver disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and coinfection with other virus such as hepatitis C virus and micro-organisms, which are usually not examined, but which could have made significant influence on the occurrence of many of the pregnancy complications and adverse fetal and neonatal outcome. For pregnancy complications, the evidence suggests association with increased gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, caesarean delivery, and postpartum haemorrhage, probably increased placental abruption and prelabour rupture of the membranes, and no effect or a reduction in the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, especially preeclampsia. For perinatal outcome, there may be increased miscarriage and fetal malformations, and increase in both low birthweight and large-for-gestational age/macrosomic infants, as well as increased intrauterine fetal demise/stillbirth and fetal distress. However, most studies have not elaborated on the mechanisms or explanations of many of the adverse outcomes. Taken together, maternal chronic HBV infection increases the risk of adverse obstetric outcome overall, but further prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the reasons and mechanisms of, and with a view to mitigate, these adverse obstetric outcomes.

Prevalence of HBsAg among reproductive age couples in Chongqing: A population-based, cross-sectional study

Hepatitis B is a leading cause of death worldwide. Here, we performed a large, population-based, cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China from 2011 to 2016 to assess the prevalence of HBsAg among couples of reproductive age, to predict subsequent trends, and to provide evidence for the WHO goal of "the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030". A total of 386,286 couples aged 20 to 49 years were enrolled in the study. Approximately 14.35% of couples were HBsAg positive, including 95.00% with discordant HBsAg positivity. HBsAg prevalence was higher in men than in women. Among different occupations, the two categories of "houseworker" (female 6.73%, male 9.99%) and "unemployed" (female 6.64%, male 9.94%) showed the highest HBsAg positivity. In different regions, the lowest prevalence appeared in southeastern Chongqing (female 4.87%, male 7.71%). In 2030, the HBsAg positivity rate is expected to be 2.79%, 7.27% and 5.13% in females, males, and the whole population, respectively. According to the trends, this rate would drop to less than 2% in 2034, 2078 and 2051. In conclusion, the HBsAg prevalence in Chongqing is still relatively high compared with that in other parts of western China, especially among reproductive-age men. HBsAg-positive couples should be taken as an important unit of care. Vaccination is necessary before pregnancy if no antibody is found. More attention should be given to people without stable jobs. HBsAg-positive rate will decrease perceptibly by 2030 and will reach the level of low in epidemic areas by 2050.

Hepatitis B virus infection among 90 million pregnant women in 2853 Chinese counties, 2015-2020: a national observational study

BACKGROUND

China has the largest disease burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is considered as a major contributor to the global elimination of hepatitis B by 2030. However, the national prevalence of HBV infection among Chinese pregnant women was not reported yet. We evaluated the national and regional prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in China between 2015-2020, aiming to provide the latest baseline data.

METHODS

We assessed the prevalence of HBV infection from data gathered through a nationwide cross-sectional study of Chinese pregnant women. Data were obtained from the National Integrated Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B Programme (iPMTCT Programme) in China, which covered all the 2856 counties from 31 provinces from 2015 to 2020. HBV infection was defined as being tested seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

FINDINGS

A total of 90.87 million pregnant women in mainland China were testing for HBV between 2015 and 2020, with 5.60 million (6.17%, 95%CI: 6.16-6.18%) tested positive for HBsAg. From 2015 to 2020, the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women declined by 25.44%, from 7.30% in 2015 to 5.44% in 2020 (p for trend < 0.001), with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of -5.27% (95% CI: -3.19% to -7.32%). Compared with the prevalence in 2015, reginal disparities in eastern, central, and western China were narrowed. Declines were also observed at provincial level and county level. HBV prevalence declined in most provinces (90.3%, 28/31) and counties (76.96%, 2198/2856) from 2015 to 2020. However, disparities still exist.

INTERPRETATION

HBV prevalence in pregnant women in China was intermediate endemic and declined continuously from 2015 to 2020. The decline has been widespread across regions, but disparities remain. Regions with relatively higher disease burden on HBV infection should receive most attention in achieving the 2030 elimination goals.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Maternal chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of preterm birth: A retrospective cohort analysis in Chinese women

The association between different clinical states of chronic HBV infection and preterm birth (PTB) is still controversial. A retrospective cohort study among 57,386 pregnant women was conducted to examine the impact of chronic HBsAg positive, both HBsAg and HBeAg positive, and chronic active hepatitis on pregnancy complications related to the overall PTB and its subtypes (spontaneous and iatrogenic). A total of 54,245 pregnancies were included in the final study cohort, among which 2,151(4.0%) pregnant women were HBsAg positive. The PTB rate was 6.0% (129/2151) for HBV-infected women while 4.5% (2319/52094) for those not. Compared with women not infected with HBV, multivariable-adjusted analyses showed HBV-infected women had a 33% higher risk of overall PTB (aRR 1.33 95%CI, 1.11-1.60), a 27% higher risk of spontaneous PTB (aRR 1.27, 95% CI, 1.02-1.57) and a 50% higher risk of iatrogenic PTB (aRR 1.50, 95%CI, 1.07-2.11). The PTB rate was 8.9% (35/395) for both HBsAg and HBeAg-positive women and 16.2% (22/136) for women with active chronic hepatitis. Multivariable-adjusted analyses showed women who were both HBsAg and HBeAg positive had a 47% higher risk of overall PTB (aRR 1.47, 95%CI, 1.04-2.09), a 2.03 times higher risk of spontaneous PTB (aRR 2.03, 95%CI, 1.38-2.99) and a 32% higher risk of iatrogenic PTB (aRR 1.32, 95%CI, 0.62-2.81), while women with chronic active hepatitis had a 3.84 times higher risk of overall PTB (aRR 3.84, 95%CI, 2.42-6.10), a 3.88 times higher risk of spontaneous PTB (aRR 3.88, 95%CI, 2.32-6.45) and a 3.01 times higher risk of iatrogenic PTB (aRR 3.01, 95%CI, 1.22-7.44). Different maternal clinical states of chronic HBV infection are independently associated with an increased risk of overall PTB and its subtypes (spontaneous and iatrogenic).