ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma: Table 1 summarizes the patients’ baseline characteristics and laboratory data. This subgroup consisted of 33 CH patients and 31 LC patients. Age (P = 0.005), AST (P = 0.017), rate of HCC (P = 0.004) and APRI (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in LC group than in CH group. On the other hand, Hb levels (P = 0.006), platelet count (P = 0.005), albumin levels (P = 0.001) and the rate of use of glucose-lowering agents (P = 0.043) were significantly lower in LC group than in CH group.