Table 3

Association between different timing and intensity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance (α-fetoprotein or ultrasound) and the risk of mortality following HCC diagnosis

Timing of surveillance in relation to HCC diagnosis	Frequency of surveillance	HR (95% CI)	p Value	Adjusted HR (95% CI)^*	p Value	Adjusted HR (95% CI)^†	p Value
0–6 months	0	Ref.
	1	0.89 (0.78 to 1.01)	0.07	0.99 (0.86 to 1.13)	0.84	1.00 (0.87 to 1.15)	0.99
	2+	0.76 (0.66 to 0.88)	0.00	0.85 (0.73 to 0.99)	0.03	0.95 (0.82 to 1.10)	0.50
7–12 months	0	Ref.
	1	0.84 (0.01 to 0.96)	0.01	0.89 (0.77 to 1.03)	0.11	0.89 (0.77 to 1.02)	0.10
	2+	0.81 (0.01 to 0.99)	0.04	0.84 (0.90 to 1.21)	0.58	0.85 (0.69 to 1.05)	0.13
13–18 months	0	Ref.
	1	1.03 (0.89 to 1.18)	0.73	1.04 (0.68 to 1.04)	0.10	1.10 (0.95 to 1.28)	0.19
	2+	0.95 (0.76 to 1.19)	0.67	0.87 (0.70 to 1.10)	0.25	0.94 (0.75 to 1.18)	0.60
19–24 months	0	Ref.
	1	0.87 (0.74 to 1.02)	0.09	0.84 (0.72 to 0.99)	0.03	0.87 (0.74 to 1.02)	0.10
	2+	1.24 (0.98 to 1.56)	0.07	1.21 (0.95 to 1.53)	0.12	1.31 (1.04 to 1.66)	0.02

↵* Adjusted for year of HCC diagnosis, age, race, MELD score, psychosis, ascites, varices and encephalopathy.
↵† Adjusted for screening test received in 3–6 years before HCC, year of HCC diagnosis, age, race, MELD score, psychosis, ascites, varices, encephalopathy, transplant, resection, TACE/TAE and RFA.
MELD, Model for End Stage Liver Disease; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; TACE/TAE, transarterial (chemo)embolisation.