Paternal HBV Infection Before Pregnancy May Heighten CHD Risk In Offspring, Study Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (9/20, Chan) reported paternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before pregnancy was associated with heightened “risk for congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring, according to study results.” Infectious Disease Advisor added, “Researchers in China conducted a matched retrospective cohort study from January 2010 to December 2018 to evaluate the association between paternal preconception HBV infection status and CHD risk in offspring. Study patients included married men with and without preconception HBV infection whose wives were aged between 20 and 49 years, uninfected with HBV, and had conceived within 1 year after prepregnancy examination.” The research was published in JAMA Pediatrics.