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Background: Liver disease is an important contributor to the mortality gap between First Nations Peoples and non-Indigenous Australian adults. Despite a high burden of metabolic comorbidities among First Nations Peoples, data about the epidemiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in this population is scarce. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all adults hospitalized with MASLD or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with/without cirrhosis during 2007–2019 in the state of Queensland was performed. Patients were followed from the first admission with MASLD/MASH (identified based on validated algorithms) to decompensated cirrhosis and overall mortality. We explored differences according to Indigenous status using Multivariable Cox regression. Findings: 439 First Nations Peoples and 7,547 non-Indigenous Australians were followed for a median of 4.6 years (interquartile range 2.7–7.2). Overall, women were overrepresented, but more so in the First Nations cohort (72.7% vs. 57.0%, p < 0.001). First Nations patients were younger, a higher proportion lived in remote and socioeconomic disadvantaged areas, and had higher comorbidity compared to non-Indigenous Australians (all p < 0.001). Diabetes, the most common comorbidity affecting both groups, was overrepresented in First Nations Peoples versus non-Indigenous Australians (43.5% vs. 30.8%, p < 0.001, respectively). Nineteen (4.3%) First Nations Peoples and 332 (4.4%) of non-Indigenous patients progressed to cirrhosis decompensation (9.0% [95%CI 4.5–17.7] vs. 7.7% [95%CI 6.6–8.9; p = 0.956] respectively within 10 years). In multivariable analysis, there was no association between Indigenous status and progression to decompensated cirrhosis (p = 0.759) and survival (p = 0.437). Conclusions: This study provides the first population-based epidemiological data on MASLD in First Nations Australians. The high prevalence of diabetes (that is associated with advanced fibrosis and liver disease mortality) among young First Nations Peoples with MASLD raises concern about future risk of progressive liver disease in this patient population. These data highlight the importance of early identification of MASLD, and providing culturally appropriate intervention to reduce disease progression in parallel with the management of cardiometabolic comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver diseases are important contributors to the mortality gap between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians. Aims: This cohort study examined factors associated with hospital admissions and healthcare outcomes among Indigenous Australians with cirrhosis. Methods: Patient‐reported outcomes were obtained by face‐to‐face interview (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and Short Form 36 (SF‐36)). Clinical data were extracted from medical records and through data linkage for 534 patients (25 indigenous). Cumulative overall survival (Kaplan–Meier), rates of hospital admissions and emergency presentations, and costs were assessed by indigenous status. Incidence rate ratios (IRR; Poisson regression) were reported. Results: Indigenous Australians admitted to hospital with cirrhosis had lower educational status compared with non‐indigenous patients (79.2% vs 43.4%; P < 0.001). The two groups had, in general, similar clinical characteristics including disease severity (P = 0.78), presence of cirrhosis complications (P = 0.67), comorbidities (P = 0.62), rates of cirrhosis‐related admissions (P = 0.86) and 5‐year survival (P = 0.30). However, indigenous patients had a lower score in the SF‐36 domain related to bodily pain (P = 0.037), more cirrhosis admissions via the emergency department (IRR = 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.83) and fewer planned cirrhosis admissions (IRR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.14–0.72). The total cost for cirrhosis‐related hospital admissions for 534 patients over 6 years (July 2012 to June 2018) was A$13.7 million. The cost of cirrhosis‐related hospital admissions was double for indigenous patients (cost ratio = 2.04, 95% CI 2.04–2.05). Conclusions: Our data highlight the disparities in health service use and patient‐reported outcomes, despite having similar clinical profiles. Integration between primary care, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and liver specialists is critical for appropriate health service delivery and effective use of resources. Chronic liver disease costs the community dearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the epidemiology and health literacy of people affected by viral hepatitis (VH) from migrant culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds attending a community-based general practitioner and specialty hepatology shared-care (HEPREACH) clinic in Brisbane, Australia. Patient-reported data on health literacy and clinical information from adult patients (n = 66) of CALD background recruited from the liver clinic were analyzed. Health literacy was assessed using a 5-question, 12-point scale. Variance weighted multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with knowledge about VH. About three-quarters of patients (74.2%) were diagnosed with hepatitis B. The median knowledge score was 7.8 (interquartile range [IQR] 6‒9). One in five patients did not understand the infective nature of VH, 30.3% did not understand mother-to-child transmission risk, and 30–40% of patients thought activities such as kissing, sharing food or mosquito bites could spread VH. Only 6% of patients understood the risk of liver cancer and the need for regular screening. Higher educational level (secondary, β = 4.8, p < 0.0001 or tertiary, β = 8.1, p < 0.0001 vs. primary) was associated with better knowledge, and transition through a refugee camp (vs. not, β = − 1.2, p = 0.028) and country of diagnosis (overseas vs. Australia, β = − 1.9, p = 0.016) were associated with poorer knowledge. Country of origin, refugee status and opportunities for tertiary education impact patients' understanding of VH. Ensuring delivery of culturally appropriate care and education is critical to improve knowledge, reduce misconceptions to improve care and outcomes for VH in CALD migrant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indigenous Australians experience greater health disadvantage and have a higher prevalence of many chronic health conditions. Liver diseases leading to cirrhosis are among the most common contributor to the mortality gap between Indigenous and other Australian adults. However, no comparative data exist assessing differences in presentation and patient outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians hospitalised with cirrhosis. Methods: Using data from the Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection and the Death Registry, this retrospective, population-based, cohort study including all people hospitalised for cirrhosis in the state of Queensland during 2008–2017 examined rate of readmission (Poisson regression), cumulative survival (Kaplan–Meier), and assessed the differences in survival (Multivariable Cox regression) by Indigenous status. Predictor variables included demographic, health service characteristics and clinical data. Results: We studied 779 Indigenous and 10,642 non-Indigenous patients with cirrhosis. A higher proportion of Indigenous patients were younger than 50 years (346 [44%] vs. 2063 [19%] non-Indigenous patients), lived in most disadvantaged areas (395 [51%) vs. 2728 [26%]), had alcohol-related cirrhosis (547 [70%] vs. 5041 [47%]), had ascites (314 [40%] vs. 3555 [33%), and presented to hospital via the Emergency Department (510 [68%] vs. 4790 [47%]). Indigenous patients had 3.04 times the rate of non-cirrhosis readmissions (95%CI 2.98–3.10), 1.35 times the rate of cirrhosis-related readmissions (95%CI 1.29–1.41), and lower overall survival (17% vs. 27%; unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.16 95%CI 1.06–1.27), compared to non-Indigenous patients. Most of the survival deficit was explained by Emergency Department presentation (adj-HR = 1.03 95%CI 0.93–1.13), and alcohol-related aetiology (adj-HR = 1.08 95%CI 0.99–1.19). The remaining survival deficit was influenced by the other clinico-demographic and health service factors (final adj-HR = 1.08 95%CI 0.96–1.20). Conclusions: There was evidence of differential presentation, higher rates of readmissions, and poorer survival for Indigenous Australians with cirrhosis, compared to other Australians. The increased prevalence of Emergency Department presentation among Indigenous patients suggests missed opportunities for early intervention to prevent progressive cirrhosis complications and hospital readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cervical cancer mortality has halved in Australia since the national cervical screening program began in 1991, but elevated mortality rates persist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (referred to as Aboriginal women in this report). We investigated differences by Aboriginal status in abnormality rates predicted by cervical cytology and confirmed by histological diagnoses among screened women. Methods: Using record linkage between cervical screening registry and public hospital records in South Australia, we obtained Aboriginal status of women aged 20–69 for 1993–2016 (this was not recorded by the registry). Differences in cytological abnormalities were investigated by Aboriginal status, using relative risk ratios from mixed effect multinomial logistic regression modelling. Odds ratios were calculated for histological high grade results for Aboriginal compared with non-Aboriginal women. Results: Of 1,676,141 linkable cytology tests, 5.8% were abnormal. Abnormal results were more common for women who were younger, never married, and living in a major city or socioeconomically disadvantaged area. After adjusting for these factors and numbers of screening episodes, the relative risk of a low grade cytological abnormality compared with a normal test was 14% (95% confidence interval 5–24%) higher, and the relative risk of a high grade cytological abnormality was 61% (95% confidence interval 44–79%) higher, for Aboriginal women. The adjusted odds ratio of a histological high grade was 76% (95% confidence interval 46–113%) higher. Conclusions: Ensuring that screen-detected abnormalities are followed up in a timely way by culturally acceptable services is important for reducing differences in cervical cancer rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Many people with chronic liver disease (CLD) are not detected until they present to hospital with advanced disease, when opportunities for intervention are reduced and morbidity is high. In order to build capacity and liver expertise in the community, it is important to focus liver healthcare resources in high-prevalence disease areas and specific populations with an identified need. The aim of the present study was to examine the geographic location of people seen in a tertiary hospital hepatology clinic, as well as ethnic and sociodemographic characteristics of these geographic areas. Methods. The geographic locations of hepatology out-patients were identified via the out-patient scheduling database and grouped into statistical area (SA) regions for demographic analysis using data compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Results. During the 3-month study period, 943 individuals from 71 SA Level 3 regions attended clinic. Nine SA Level 3 regions accounted for 55% of the entire patient cohort. Geographic clustering was seen especially for people living with chronic hepatitis B virus. There was a wide spectrum of socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage in areas with high liver disease prevalence. Conclusions. The geographic area from which people living with CLD travel to access liver health care is extensive. However, the greatest demand for tertiary liver disease speciality care is clustered within specific geographic areas. Outreach programs targeted to these areas may enhance liver disease-specific health service resourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the association between residential remoteness and stage of cancer at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival within the Australian Indigenous population. Design Systematic review and matched retrospective cohort study. Setting Australia. Participants Systematic review: published papers that included a comparison of cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, mortality and/or survival for Indigenous people across remoteness categories were identified (n = 181). Fifteen papers (13 studies) were included in the review. Original analyses: new analyses were conducted using data from the Queensland Indigenous Cancer Study (QICS) comparing cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival for Indigenous cancer patients living in rural/remote areas (n = 627, 66%) and urban areas (n = 329, 34%). Main Outcome Measures Systematic review: Papers were included if there were related to stage of disease at diagnosis, treatment, mortality and survival of cancer. Restrictions were not placed on the outcome measures reported (e.g. standardised mortality ratios versus crude mortality rates). Original analyses: Odds ratios (OR, 95%CI) were used to compare stage of disease and treatment uptake between the two remoteness groups. Treatment uptake (treated/not treated) was analysed using logistic regression analysis. Survival was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression. The final multivariate models included stage of cancer at diagnosis and area-level socioeconomic status (SEIFA). Results Existing evidence of variation in cancer outcomes for Indigenous people in remote compared with metropolitan areas is limited. While no previous studies have reported on differences in cancer stage and treatment uptake by remoteness within the Indigenous population, the available evidence suggests Indigenous cancer patients are less likely to survive their cancer the further they live from urban centres. New analysis of QICS data indicates that Indigenous cancer patients in rural/remote Queensland were less likely to be diagnosed with localised disease and less likely to receive treatment for their cancer compared to their urban counterparts. Conclusion More research is needed to fully understand geographic differentials in cancer outcomes within the Indigenous population. Knowing how geographical location interacts with Indigenous status can help to identify ways of improving cancer outcomes for Indigenous Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To examine the relationship between diet, physical activity, and obesity in Indigenous youths from northern Australia. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, physical activity and dietary intake ("short nutrition questionnaire") were assessed among all youths during a face-to-face interview. For 92 high school youths, additional dietary information was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations. Results. Of the 277 youths included, 52% had ⩽2 servings of fruit and 84% had <4 servings of vegetables per day; 65% ate fish and 27%, take-away food ("fast food") at least twice a week. One in four ate local traditional sea food including turtle and dugong (a local sea mammal) at least twice a week. Overweight/obese youths engaged in fewer days of physical activity in the previous week than normal weight youths (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.43-4.40), though patterns of physical activity differed by sex and age (P < 0.001). Overweight/obese youths were 1.89 times (95% CI 1.07-3.35) more likely to eat dugong regularly than nonobese youths. Analysis of food-frequency data showed no difference by weight assessment among high-school students. Conclusions. Low fruit and vegetable intake were identified in these Indigenous youths. Regular consumption of fried dugong and low frequency of physical activity were associated with overweight/obesity reinforcing the need to devise culturally appropriate health promotion strategies and interventions for Indigenous youths aimed at improving their diet and increasing their physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study describes and compares the unmet supportive care needs between Indigenous and Non‐Indigenous people with cancer. Methods: Data from two cross‐sectional supportive care needs studies were matched in a 1:1 ratio for Indigenous (n = 125) and Non‐Indigenous (n = 125) Australian adults diagnosed with cancer. Descriptive statistics were used to compare type and prevalence of 24 need items measured by the SCNS‐SF34 and SCNAT‐IP. Results: A higher proportion of Non‐Indigenous participants compared to Indigenous participants reported having any moderate‐to‐high level of unmet needs (70% vs. 54%, p = 0.013) and the difference was consistently observed across non‐matched characteristics. While concerns for caregivers, fear of recurrence and pain were central needs for both Indigenous participants and Non‐Indigenous participants, there were some key differences in the specific unmet needs between groups. Physical issues including doing usual daily activities and dealing with fatigue were the top priorities for Non‐Indigenous people, while money worries, dealing with psychological issues such as how to keep their spirit strong or hope about their future appeared to be priorities for Indigenous people. Conclusions: Variations in the unmet supportive care needs between Indigenous and Non‐Indigenous people with cancer may guide health professionals to target specific needs when preparing care plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]