Changes in cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in pregnant Japanese women—A 10-year single center study

Abstract Background Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes congenital infections during pregnancy, and seroepidemiological data are important for estimating the risk of infection. However, only a few reports of CMV seroprevalence exist for pregnant Japanese women. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess CMV seroprevalence in pregnant Japanese women. Study design This cross-sectional study involved pregnant Japanese women who delivered from 2003 to 2012 at our hospital ( n  = 15,616). Among these women, 14,099 (90.3%) underwent tests for the presence of CMV IgG. Those with an equivocal test result were excluded ( n  = 195) from this analysis, leaving a study sample of 13,904 Japanese pregnant women. The prevalence of CMV IgG was also assessed by calendar year, age, and parity. Results The overall CMV IgG prevalence rate was 66.0%. CMV IgG prevalence significantly decreased over the course of 10 years from 2003 to 2012 (from 69.9% in 2003 to 65.2% in 2012) ( p 40 years were 1.66 (95%CI: 1.25–2.20), 1.20 (95%CI: 1.07–1.35), 1.16 (95%CI: 1.07–1.26), and 1.44 (95%CI: 1.28–1.62), respectively, compared to women aged 30–35 years. Adjusted odds ratios for CMV IgG positivity for a parity of 1, 2, and ≥3 were 1.14 (95%CI: 1.06–1.23), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.32–1.77), and 2.54 (95%CI: 2.69–3.84), respectively, compared to nulliparous women. Conclusion We found that 34% of pregnant Japanese women were susceptible to CMV infection. Calendar year, maternal age, and parity were significantly associated with changes in CMV seroprevalence among this population.