Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 995-1002.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.05.12

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Chronic HBV infection affects health-related quality of life in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters and postpartum period: a prospective cohort study

Yueying DENG1(), Yawen GENG1, Tingting PENG2, Junchao QIU3, Lijuan HE4, Dan XIE2, Ziren CHEN2, Shi OUYANG1,2(), Shengguang YAN1,5,6()   

  1. 1.School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
    2.Department of Infectious Diseases
    3.Department of Obstetrics, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511495, China
    4.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kailuan General Hospital, Tangshan 063210, China
    5.Hebei Key Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety for Coal Industry, Tangshan 063210, China
    6.Hebei Coordinated Innovation Center of Occupational Health and Safety, Tangshan 063210, China
  • Received:2025-01-15 Online:2025-05-20 Published:2025-05-23
  • Contact: Shi OUYANG, Shengguang YAN E-mail:1014564621@qq.com;ouyangshi@gzhmu.edu.cn;yansg@ncst.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the impact of HBV infection on pre- and postpartum health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pregnant women. Methods A prospective matched cohort consisting of 70 HBV-infected and 70 healthy pregnant women was recruited from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between April 17 and September 25, 2023. HRQoL of the participants was assessed at 16-24 weeks of gestation, between 32 weeks and delivery, and 5-13 weeks postpartum. Mixed linear models were used for evaluating temporal trends of HRQoL changes, and univariate ANOVA with multiple linear regression was used to identify the predictors of HRQoL. Results Compared with healthy pregnant women, HBV-infected pregnant women had consistently lower total HRQoL scores across all the 3 intervals, with the lowest scores observed between 32 weeks of gestation and delivery, during which these women had significantly reduced mental component scores (74.27±13.43 vs 80.21±12.9, P=0.009) and postpartum mental (76.52±16.19 vs 85.02±6.51, P<0.001) and physical component scale scores (77.17±14.71 vs 83.09±10.1, P=0.009). HBV infection was identified as an independent risk factor affecting HRQoL during late pregnancy and postpartum periods. Additional independent risk factors for postpartum HRQoL reduction included self-pay medical expenses, spouse's neutral attitude toward the current pregnancy, and preexisting comorbidities (all P<0.05). Conclusion HRQoL of pregnant women deteriorates progressively in late pregnancy, and HBV infection exacerbates reductions of physical function and role emotion in late pregnancy and after delivery, suggesting the importance of targeted interventions for financial burdens, partner support and comorbid conditions to improve HRQoL of pregnant women with HBV infection.

Key words: chronic hepatitis B, pregnant women, quality of life