Survival in 1480 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in association with prediagnosis HCC surveillance with and without adjustment for possible lead time
| HCC Surveillance group | Observed (uncorrected) | From HCV index date | Parametric model 1 | Parametric model 2 | ||||
| Surveillance in 0–6 months | Surveillance in 7–24 months | Median survival days | Median survival days | HR (95% CI) | Median survival days | HR (95%) | Median survival days | HR (95% CI) |
| No | No | 130 | 1782 | 130 | 130 | |||
| No | Yes | 192 | 1815 | 0.86 (0.72 to 1.04) | 126 | 0.96 (0.80 to 1.16) | 87 | 1.04 (0.87 to 1.26) |
| Yes | No | 282 | 1809 | 0.90 (0.77 to 1.06) | 213 | 0.92 (0.78 to 1.08) | 160 | 1.00 (0.85 to 1.17) |
| Yes | Yes | 368 | 1951 | 0.82 (0.72 to 0.95) | 298 | 0.81 (0.70 to 0.94) | 238 | 0.88 (0.76 to 1.02) |
In parametric model 1, we assume a HCC sojourn time of 70 days, and in parametric model 2, we assume a HCC sojourn time of 140 days.
Lead time can be a portion or all of sojourn time.
Surveillance is either α-fetoprotein or ultrasound.
HCV, hepatitis C virus.