The forest plot showed that after PSM, regardless of sex, Child–Pugh class, AFP levels, with or without cirrhosis, compensation or decompensation period, BCLC stage A, C, and D, hepatitis B virus or other causes, the TCM group exhibited a lower risk of death in 3 years than the control group (P < 0.05; Figure 5). Here, AFP is linked to Cirrhosis.