Table 3.
Univariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis of factors affecting the lead time-adjusted survival.
| Univariate analysis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | Exp(B) | 95% CI | p value | |
| Age (years) | 1.013 | 1.005–1.022 | 0.002 | |
| Sex | ||||
| F | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| M | 1.017 | 0.773–1.339 | 0.902 | |
| Drinking habit | ||||
| Past | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Current | 0.946 | 0.821–1.090 | 0.444 | |
| Smoking habit | ||||
| Never | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Past | 1.065 | 0.867–1.307 | 0.549 | |
| Current | 0.958 | 0.795–1.154 | 0.651 | |
| Modality of HCC diagnosis | ||||
| Surveillance | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Incidental | 0.975 | 0.826–1.150 | 0.760 | |
| Symptomatic | 1.780 | 1.460–2.169 | <0.001 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 0.975 | 0.846–1.125 | 0.731 | |
| MAFLD | 0.806 | 0.681–0.954 | 0.012 | |
| Cirrhosis | 1.390 | 1.028–1.878 | 0.032 | |
| Child–Pugh class | ||||
| A | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| B | 1.705 | 1.467–1.983 | <0.001 | |
| C | 4.343 | 3.414–5.523 | <0.001 | |
| MELD score | 1.062 | 1.048–1.076 | <0.001 | |
| ALBI grade | ||||
| Grade 1, ≤-2.60 | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Grade 2, >-2.60 ≤-1.39 | 1.580 | 1.292–1.932 | <0.001 | |
| Grade 3, >-1.39 | 3.791 | 2.941–4.888 | <0.001 | |
| APRI | ||||
| First tertile | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Second tertile | 1.118 | 0.921–1.358 | 0.259 | |
| Third tertile | 1.627 | 1.346–1.966 | <0.001 | |
| ECOG PS | ||||
| 0 | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| 1 | 1.933 | 1.635–2.285 | <0.001 | |
| ≥2 | 4.566 | 3.722–5.601 | <0.001 | |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | 1.058 | 1.016–1.102 | 0.006 | |
| Oesophageal varices | 1.496 | 1.298–1.724 | <0.001 | |
| Platelet count | ||||
| >100,000/μl | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| ≤100,000/μl | 1.174 | 1.015–1.359 | 0.031 | |
| Alpha-foetoprotein levels | ||||
| ≤10 ng/ml | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| 11–200 ng/ml | 1.377 | 1.169–1.620 | <0.001 | |
| >200 ng/ml | 1.973 | 1.632–2.386 | <0.001 | |
| Tumour gross pathology | ||||
| Single | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Multifocal | 1.636 | 1.408–1.900 | <0.001 | |
| Infiltrative | 4.818 | 3.491–6.651 | <0.001 | |
| Massive | 4.016 | 2.780–5.800 | <0.001 | |
| Number of lesions | ||||
| 1 | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| 2–3 lesions | 1.408 | 1.187–1.671 | <0.001 | |
| >3 lesions | 2.189 | 1.804–2.657 | <0.001 | |
| Size of the greatest lesion | ||||
| ≤2.0 cm | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| 2.1–5.0 cm | 1.214 | 1.012–1.457 | 0.037 | |
| >5 cm | 2.283 | 1.873–2.782 | <0.001 | |
| MVI | ||||
| No | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Segmental | 2.186 | 1.131–4.226 | 0.020 | |
| Main portal branches | 2.282 | 1.714–3.039 | <0.001 | |
| Portal trunk/caval vein | 2.960 | 2.362–3.709 | <0.001 | |
| Metastases | 3.075 | 2.286–4.138 | <0.001 | |
| ITA.LI.CA tumour stage | ||||
| 0 | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| A | 1.103 | 0.865–1.408 | 0.429 | |
| B1 | 1.567 | 1.192–2.062 | 0.001 | |
| B2 | 1.670 | 1.264–2.205 | <0.001 | |
| B3 | 2.289 | 1.618–3.239 | <0.001 | |
| C | 3.559 | 2.719–4.658 | <0.001 | |
| D | 4.426 | 3.479–5.629 | <0.001 | |
| Main treatment | ||||
| BSC | Ref. Cat. | — | — | |
| Liver transplant | 0.024 | 0.012–0.048 | <0.001 | |
| Resection | 0.086 | 0.066–0.113 | <0.001 | |
| Ablation | 0.118 | 0.095–0.147 | <0.001 | |
| IAT | 0.211 | 0.172–0.259 | <0.001 | |
| Systemic therapy | 0.457 | 0.339–0.616 | <0.001 | |
| Others | 0.799 | 0.479–1.331 | 0.389 | |
Levels of significance: <0.05 (Cox regression model).
ALBI, albumin–bilirubin; APRI, AST to Platelet Ratio Index; BSC, best supportive care; ECOG-PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; IAT, intra-arterial therapy; ITA.LI.CA, Italian Liver Cancer; MAFLD, metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease; MELD, model for end-stage liver disease; MVI, macrovascular Invasion; Ref. Cat., reference category.