Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infant associated with infant weight-for-age

Objective To investigate the association between infant immune response to hepatitis B vaccine and infant weight-for-age. Methods All infants with a complete HBV vaccination from the top three hospitals in Xinjiang province were detected for hepatitis B infection on the first time they came to the hospital from September 2013 to June 2015. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data on vaccination details, 0-12 months height and weight information, general situation of parents, mother information during pregnancy, information of birth, and other information. Weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) and weight deviation were used for the growth and physiology index assessment to analyze its association with immune response to hepatitis B vaccine. Results 490 boys and 475 girls of total 965 children with a mean age of (1.34±0.56) were included in the study, among which HBV antibody-negative children accounted for 15.23% (147/965). There was no significant difference in the general situation of parents, mother information during pregnancy, information of birth between group (-) and (+)(all P>0.05). Compared group (-) and (+) by 1,3,6 month weight, the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Infants in group (-) were heavier than those in group (+). Compared group (-) and (+) by 1,3,6 month WAZ, weight deviation, the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). The OR of overweight relative to normal in 1 month was 3.409,95% CI:2.199-5.286, 3 month was 5.339,95% CI:3.128-9.113 and 6 month was 5.106,95% CI:2.910-8.958, overweight group had higher non-response rate compared with normal group. The OR of right-deviation to normal in 1 month was 3.554,95% CI:2.249-5.616, 3 month was 5.785,95% CI:3.271-10.232 and 6 month was 4.486,95% CI:2.642-7.619, overweight group had higher non-response rate compared with normal group. Conclusions The weight of 0-6 months (inoculation period) will affect the level of immune response to hepatitis B vaccine. The fast physical growth of infant have influence on the response to hepatitis B vaccine.