Association between maternal chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the neurodevelopment of children: A comprehensive Korean cohort study

Yewan Park ^1 2, Jihye Heo ^3 4, Danbee Kang ^3 4, Geum-Youn Gwak ⁵

• PMID: 40502408
• PMCID: PMC12158505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103116

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies have indicated a potential association between maternal Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and impaired neurodevelopment in offspring. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between maternal HBV infection and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in children.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, encompassing live births from 2005 to 2019. The cohort comprised children born to mothers who underwent Hepatitis B surface antigen testing. Subsequent diagnoses of NDD were monitored in these children. Propensity score matching, at a 1:3 ratio, was employed to compare children born to HBV-infected mothers with those born to uninfected mothers. This matching method adjusted for various maternal and pregnancy-related variables.

Results: The study encompassed 263,904 children born to HBV-infected mothers and 791,712 matched controls. Offspring of HBV-infected mothers exhibited a slightly elevated risk of NDD development (HR 1.03, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.04). Remarkably, children who were themselves infected with HBV demonstrated a further increased risk (HR 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.28).

Conclusions: Children born to HBV-infected mothers, particularly those directly infected, displayed a modestly heightened risk of NDD. These findings underscore the necessity for further investigation into the impact of maternal HBV infection on offspring neurodevelopment and the formulation of targeted interventions.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Korean National Health Insurance Service; Maternal viral infection; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Paediatric outcomes.