Table 1 Baseline characteristics and univariate Cox regression analyses of overall survival for patients with complete HRQOL data (n = 472)

 Age < = 65

328

69

0.909

0.730–1.131

0.3898

 Male gender

419

89

1.299

0.919–1.835

0.1381

 ECOG ≥ 2

29

6

2.885

1.927–4.317

<0.0001

 Hemoglobin <10g/dL

27

6

1.294

0.840–1.995

0.2424

 White cell count >10×10⁹/L

64

14

2.507

1.885–3.333

<0.0001

 Platelet count < 100×10⁹/L

33

7

1.696

1.158–2.485

0.0067

 International normalized ratio >1.4

36

8

1.410

0.945–2.104

0.0922

 Creatinine ≥ ULN

67

14

1.115

0.833–1.491

0.4644

 Bilirubin ≥ 20umol/l

239

51

1.974

1.594–2.445

<0.0001

 Albumin ≤35g/l

182

39

2.186

1.765–2.708

<0.0001

 Alanine aminotransferase >2xULN

81

17

1.567

1.201–2.044

0.0009

 Alkaline phosphatase >2xULN

145

31

2.417

1.938–3.014

<0.0001

 Hepatitis B surface antigen +

386

82

1.196

0.908–1.575

0.2029

 Hepatitis C antibody +

30

6

0.641

0.403–1.019

0.0600

 Ascites

278

59

0.894

0.721–1.107

0.3036

 Cirrhosis (radiological)

122

26

2.237

1.775–2.820

<0.0001

  A

319

68

1.000

-

-

  B

130

28

2.187

1.740–2.750

<0.0001

  C

23

4

4.360

2.774–6.854

<0.0001

 α-fetoprotein ≥200 mg/ml

250

53

2.318

1.865–2.882

<0.0001

  Uninodular

122

26

1.000

-

-

  Multinodular

143

30

2.097

1.509–2.914

<0.0001

 Diffuse

207

44

4.360

3.027–3.822

<0.0001

 Extrahepatic metastasis (nodal or distant)

108

23

3.003

2.360–3.822

<0.0001

 Portal vein thrombosis

152

32

3.647

2.899–4.587

<0.0001

 Curative

83

18

1.000

-

 Palliative or best supportive care alone

389

82

5.802

3.820–8.810

<0.0001

 Surgical treatment

54

12

1.000

-

 Local ablative therapies

29

6

2.526

1.131–5.643

0.0238

 Trans-arterial therapies

116

25

4.597

2.446–8.637

<0.0001

 Systemic therapies

91

19

10.209

5.380–19.372

<0.0001

 Best supportive care alone

182

38

15.624

8.442–28.914

<0.0001