There were also significance difference in gender, ethnicity, LSM, weight, BMI, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, urine albumin, TG, HDL-C, blood cobalt, hs-CRP, HbA1c, HOMA-IS, eGFR, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C between the groups (p < 0.05), and we take these as covariates in the following study. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is hepatitis B virus infection.