Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

Cases

920

651

269

BMI (kg/\({m}^{2}\))

22.45 (20.32, 24.87)

22.48 (20.34, 24.97)

22.41 (20.31, 24.69)

0.786

Neutrophil cells count (× 10^9/L)

3.49 (2.77, 4.49)

3.45 (2.76, 4.47)

3.52 (2.82, 4.58)

0.555

Monocyte cells count (× 10^9/L)

0.45 (0.35, 0.58)

0.45 (0.35, 0.58)

0.45 (0.35, 0.57)

0.936

Lymphocyte cells count (× 10^9/L)

1.72 (1.35, 2.18)

1.71 (1.36, 2.15)

1.76 (1.32, 2.22)

0.851

Platelet count (× 10^9/L)

197 (150, 251)

195 (151.5, 251)

201 (148, 251)

0.999

Total bilirubin (μmol/L)

13.4 (10, 18)

13.4 (10, 17.9)

13 (10, 18.1)

0.872

Albumin (g/L)

38.79 ± 4.31

38.8 ± 4.22

38.78 ± 4.52

0.963

Serum ALT (U/L)

35 (24, 51.25)

36 (24, 51)

34 (23, 54)

0.705

Serum AST (U/L)

39 (30, 57)

38 (30, 58.5)

39 (31, 53)

0.771

C-reactive protein (mg/L)

2.58 (1.2, 7.22)

2.64 (1.2, 7.19)

2.44 (1.2, 7.29)

0.9

Prothrombin time (s)

12.7 (11.9, 13.5)

12.7 (11.9, 13.5)

12.7 (12, 13.5)

0.953

Size of tumors (cm)

0.113

  ≤ 3

154 (17%)

117 (18%)

37 (14%)

 3 − 5

255 (28%)

186 (29%)

69 (26%)

  > 5

511 (56%)

348 (53%)

163 (61%)

Sex

0.208

 male

788 (86%)

551 (84%)

238 (88%)

 female

132 (14%)

100 (16%)

31 (12%)

Age (years)

0.024

  < 65

791 (86%)

571 (88%)

220 (82%)

  ≥ 65

129 (14%)

80 (12%)

49 (18%)

HBV DNA

0.232

  > 100 IU/ml

361 (39%)

264 (41%)

97 (36%)

  ≤ 100 IU/ml

559 (61%)

387 (59%)

172 (64%)

AFP (ng/mL)

0.798

  ≤ 400

567 (62%)

399 (61%)

168 (62%)

  > 400

353 (38%)

252 (39%)

101 (38%)

Cirrhosis

0.171

 Yes

670(73%)

483(74%)

187 (70%)

 No

250 (27%)

168 (26%)

82 (30%)

Ascites

0.371

 Yes

140 (15%)

104 (16%)

36 (13%)

 No

782 (85%)

547 (84%)

233 (87%)

Child–Pugh class

1

 A

858 (93%)

607 (93%)

251 (93%)

 B

62 (7%)

45 (7%)

18 (7%)

Number of tumors

1

 Single

742 (81%)

525 (81%)

217 (81%)

 Multiple

179 (19%)

127 (19%)

52 (19%)

Macrovascular invasion

0.806

 Yes

175 (19%)

122 (19%)

53 (20%)

 No

745 (81%)

529 (81%)

216 (80%)

Edmondson-Steiner grade

0.142

 I-II

433 (47%)

317 (49%)

116 (43%)

 III-IV

487 (53%)

334 (51%)

153 (57%)

MVI

0.343

 Yes

455 (49%)

329 (51%)

126 (47%)

 No

462 (51%)

322 (49%)

143 (53%)

BCLC

0.73

 0

29 (3%)

24 (4%)

6 (2%)

 1

593 (64%)

421 (65%)

172 (64%)

 2

123 (13%)

85 (13%)

38 (14%)

 3

175 (19%)

122 (19%)

53 (20%)

CNLC, n (%)

0.421

 IA

298 (32%)

223 (34%)

75 (28%)

 IB

319 (35%)

221 (34%)

98 (36%)

 IIA

103 (11%)

70 (11%)

33 (12%)

 IIB

31 (3%)

20 (3%)

11 (4%)

 IIIA

169 (18%)

117 (18%)

52 (19%)