AFP and infection: When comparing risk factors between patients with HCC (n = 73) and those without HCC (n = 275), Table 3 shows that the proportions of patients with cirrhosis (50, 68.49% vs. 98, 35.64%; p < 0.001), infection duration ≥5 years (53, 72.60% vs. 166, 60.36%; p = 0.054), AFP >20 ng/mL (45, 61.64% vs. 67, 24.36%; p < 0.001), elevated ALT (56, 76.71% vs. 159, 57.82%; p = 0.006), comorbidities (29, 39.73% vs. 60, 21.82%; p = 0.004), and age over 45 years were significantly higher.