ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma: Baseline clinical and biochemical factors associated with HCC development, including age ≥50 years (hazard ratio (HR): 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–4.36), serum HBV DNA levels ≥4 × 105 IU/mL (HR: 1.96, 95% CI = 1.03–3.74), albumin <3 g/dL (HR: 2.91, 95% CI = 1.04–8.15), and AFP ≥8 ng/mL (HR: 2.29, 95% CI = 1.28–4.1), were identified using a univariate Cox regression analysis.