Maternal Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Adverse Newborn Outcomes in the US

We investigated the relationship between maternal hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and infant health. Furthermore, we evaluated racial disparities with these associations.

Using 2017 US birth certificate data, we investigated the association between maternal HCV infection and infant birthweight, preterm birth, and Apgar score. We used unadjusted and adjusted linear regression and logistic regression models. Models were adjusted for use of prenatal care, maternal age, maternal education, maternal smoking status, and the presence of other sexually transmitted infections. We stratified the models by race to describe the experiences of White and Black women separately.

Maternal HCV infection was associated with reduced infant birthweight on average by 42.0 g (95% CI: -58.81, -25.30) for women of all races, 64.6 g (95% CI: -81.91, -47.26) for White women and 80.3 g (95% CI: -162.48, 1.93) for Black women. Women with maternal HCV infection had increased odds of having a preterm birth of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.17) for women of all races, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.18) for White women and 1.35 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.97) for Black women. Overall, women with maternal HCV infection had increased odds 1.26 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.55) of having a low/intermediate Apgar score; White and Black women with HCV infection had similarly increased odds of an infant with low/intermediate Apgar score in a stratified analysis: 1.23 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.53) for White women and 1.24 (95% CI: 0.51, 3.02) for Black women.

Maternal HCV infection was associated with lower infant birthweight and higher odds of having a low/intermediate Apgar score. Given the potential for residual confounding, these results should be interpreted with caution.