这项研究确定了澳大利亚远北昆士兰州 (FNQ) 慢性乙型肝炎 (CHB) 患者的乙型肝炎 e 抗原 (HBeAg) 状态及其 HBeAg 消失的年龄。希望这能够提供数据来解释 FNQ 的原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之间患有 CHB 的原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之间肝细胞癌 (HCC) 发病率的显着差异，这一发现被假设与乙型肝炎病毒基因型的差异有关。我们确定了每位患有 CHB 的 FNQ 居民，确定了他们的出生国、HBeAg 状况、HBeAg 消失年龄以及他们是否被认定为原住民、托雷斯海峡岛民或非原住民。然后我们确定这些人口统计学和病毒学变量是否相关。在 FNQ 的 1,474 名 CHB 患者中，278 名 (19%) 为原住民，507 名 (34%) 为托雷斯海峡岛民，689 名 (47%) 为非原住民。原住民 HBeAg 阳性的可能性 (26/278, 9%) 低于托雷斯海峡岛民 (91/507, 18%) 和非原住民 (126/689, 18%)，p < 0.0001。原住民失去 HBeAg 的年龄（中位（四分位距）：30（23-39）岁）比托雷斯海峡岛民（38（29-49）岁）和非原住民（36（29-47）岁）个体更早，p < 0.0001。 FNQ 中患有 CHB 的原住民比托雷斯海峡岛民和非原住民更有可能 HBeAg 阴性，并且在更年轻的时候就失去了 HBeAg。这为当地临床医生观察到 FNQ 患有 CHB 的原住民患 HCC 的风险较低提供了生物学基础，并且数据支持该地区基于基因型的护理原则。© Commonwealth of Australia CC BY-NC-ND。

This study determined the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status of people living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia and their age of HBeAg loss. It was hoped that this would provide data to explain the stark difference in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals living with CHB in FNQ, a finding that has been hypothesised to relate to differences in hepatitis B virus genotype. We identified every FNQ resident with CHB, determined their country of birth, their HBeAg status, the age they lost HBeAg and whether they identified as an Aboriginal, a Torres Strait Islander or a non-Indigenous individual. We then ascertained whether these demographic and virological variables were correlated. Of 1,474 individuals living with CHB in FNQ, 278 (19%) were Aboriginal, 507 (34%) were Torres Strait Islanders and 689 (47%) were non-Indigenous. Aboriginal individuals were less likely to be HBeAg positive (26/278, 9%) than Torres Strait Islander (91/507, 18%) and non-Indigenous (126/689, 18%) individuals, p < 0.0001. Aboriginal individuals lost HBeAg at an earlier age (median (interquartile range): 30 (23-39) years) than Torres Strait Islander (38 (29-49) years) and non-Indigenous (36 (29-47) years) individuals, p < 0.0001. Aboriginal individuals with CHB in FNQ are more likely to be HBeAg negative than Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous individuals and lose HBeAg at a younger age. This provides a biological basis for local clinicians' observation that Aboriginal individuals with CHB in FNQ are at a lower risk of HCC and data to support the principle of genotype-based care in the region.© Commonwealth of Australia CC BY-NC-ND.