AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Among the 4806 HCV patients treated with either DAA or IFN-based therapy, multivariate Cox regression identified several independent factors associated with HCC occurrence: age ≥ 60 years [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.888 (95% CI: 1.263–3.085), p = 0.001], male sex [aHR: 2.481 (1.770–3.476), p < 0.001], higher BMI [aHR: 1.056 (1.012–1.102), p = 0.013], pretherapy AFP level ≥ 6 ng/mL [aHR: 3.034 (2.005–4.591), p < 0.001], higher pretherapy FIB-4 level [aHR: 1.056 (1.020–1.093), p = 0.002], and ACLD status [aHR: 3.297 (2.012–5.403), p < 0.001].