Table III.

Peripheral blood leucocyte telomere length categorized by median, tertile and quartile and HCC risk.

TLs categorization	N (%)		Crude OR (95% CI)	OR* (95% CI)
	Cases	Controls
By median
Longer (≥42.19)	124 (46.3)	266 (49.9)	1.00 (Reference)	1.00 (Reference)
Shorter (<42.19)	144 (53.7)	267 (50.1)	1.20 (0.85–1.69)	0.96 (0.63–1.46)
By tertile
Tertile3 (≥58.65)	87 (32.4)	177 (33.2)	1.00 (Reference)	1.00 (Reference)
Tertile2 (≥31.44 to 58.64)	80 (29.9)	179 (33.6)	0.95 (0.64–1.39)	0.71 (0.46–1.16)
Tertile1 (<31.44)	101 (37.7)	177 (33.2)	1.27 (0.82–1.96)	1.11 (0.65–1.91)
By quartile
Q4 (≥71.90)	58 (21.6)	132 (24.8)	1.00 (Reference)	1.00 (Reference)
Q3 (≥42.19 to 71.89)	66 (24.6)	134 (25.1)	1.17 (0.75–1.81)	1.19 (0.72–1.98)
Q2 (≥27.68 to 42.18)	69 (25.7)	134 (25.1)	1.26 (0.80–2.00)	0.93 (0.54–1.61)
Q1 (<27.68)	75 (28.1)	133 (25.0)	1.48 (0.88–2.47)	1.37 (0.73–2.59)

^*OR adjusted by HBsAg, Anti-HCV status, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking status.