The cumulative rates of HCC development in patients with EOT-Alb <3.9 and ≥3.9 g/dL were 3.1% and 0.5%, respectively, at one year, 4.7% and 1.0% at two years, 9.3% and 1.8% at three years, and 11.9% and 2.7% at four years (Fig 5A). Here, ALB is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.