Absence of steatosis combined with cardiometabolic risk factors confers the highest hepatocellular carcinoma risk in treated chronic hepatitis B

Key Points

• This study aims to identify the risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with antiviral medication.
• Examined chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs.
• Identified patients without steatosis and with two or more cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs).
• Patients without steatosis and with ≥2 CMRFs had the highest risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Incorporating steatosis and CMRFs into risk assessment could improve patient outcomes.