ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma: Compared with patients who did not develop HCC, those who developed HCC were older (p = 0.005) and exhibited a higher degree of histological fibrosis (p < 0.001) and inflammation (p = 0.018), lower albumin levels (p < 0.001), lower platelet counts (p < 0.001), and higher α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (p < 0.001).