TABLE 1.
Baseline demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables for the study cohort (n = 940)
| Variable | Categories | Controls (n = 872) | Cases (n = 68) | p value of chi-square test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total bile acids (µmol/L) | Tertile 1 (0.03–6.38) | 303 (34.75) | 11 (16.18) | 0.0005 |
| Tertile 2 (6.44–32.20) | 292 (33.49) | 21 (30.88) | ||
| Tertile 3 (32.44–237.79) | 277 (31.77) | 36 (52.94) | ||
| Age | <55 | 211 (24.2) | 10 (14.71) | 0.2021 |
| 55–<65 | 373 (42.78) | 32 (47.06) | ||
| 65+ | 288 (33.03) | 26 (38.24) | ||
| Gender | Male | 569 (65.25) | 47 (69.12) | 0.5183 |
| Female | 303 (34.75) | 21 (30.88) | ||
| Race and ethnicity | NH-White | 438 (50.23) | 45 (66.18) | 0.0547 |
| NH-Black | 190 (21.79) | 9 (13.24) | ||
| Hispanic | 222 (25.46) | 14 (20.59) | ||
| Others | 22 (2.52) | — | ||
| Smoking | Never | 334 (38.3) | 23 (33.82) | 0.5012a |
| Former | 346 (39.68) | 25 (36.76) | ||
| Current | 187 (21.44) | 20 (29.41) | ||
| Missing | 5 (0.57) | — | ||
| Alcohol drinking | Never | 241 (27.64) | 18 (26.47) | 0.2426a |
| Others (past [no, current not heavy, or declined]) | 577 (66.17) | 42 (61.76) | ||
| Current heavy | 49 (5.62) | 8 (11.76) | ||
| Missing | 5 (0.57) | — | ||
| Hypertension | Yes | 437 (50.11) | 35 (51.47) | 0.8295 |
| Dyslipidemia | Yes | 281 (32.22) | 27 (39.71) | 0.2055 |
| Diabetes | Yes | 372 (42.66) | 42 (61.76) | 0.0022 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | <30 | 453 (51.95) | 25 (36.76) | 0.0368 |
| ≥30 | 413 (47.36) | 43 (63.24) | ||
| Missing | 6 (0.69) | — | ||
| AFP (ng/ml) | <10 | 785 (90.02) | 55 (80.88) | 0.0194a |
| 10–20 | 60 (6.88) | 6 (8.82) | ||
| >20 | 24 (2.75) | 7 (10.29) | ||
| Missing | 3 (0.34) | — | ||
| Etiology | No HCV | 495 (56.77) | 33 (48.53) | 0.1874 |
| HCV (active or cured) | 377 (43.23) | 35 (51.47) | ||
| Child class | A | 598 (68.58) | 45 (66.18) | 0.4392a |
| B | 207 (23.74) | 21 (30.88) | ||
| C | 28 (3.21) | 1 (1.47) | ||
| Missing | 39 (4.47) | 1 (1.47) | ||
| Bilirubin | Tertile 1 | 268 (30.73) | 21 (30.88) | 0.0450a |
| Tertile 2 | 317 (36.35) | 15 (22.06) | ||
| Tertile 3 | 286 (32.8) | 32 (47.06) | ||
| Missing | 1 (0.11) | — | ||
| MELD | Tertile 1 | 277 (31.77) | 16 (23.53) | 0.4346 |
| Tertile 2 | 313 (35.89) | 30 (44.12) | ||
| Tertile 3 | 266 (30.5) | 21 (30.88) | ||
| Missing | 16 (1.83) | 1 (1.47) |
a
Fisher exact test.
Abbreviations: AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; NH, non-Hispanic.