As there are uncertainties concerning continuation of HCC surveillance after HCV cure in patients with cirrhosis and in those with advanced fibrosis (F3), researchers herein investigated the incidence of HCC after HCV cure among patients with F3 fibrosis or cirrhosis.

• Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis including 44 studies (107,548 person-years of follow-up) examining the incidence of HCC after HCV cure among patients with F3 fibrosis or cirrhosis.

• Among patients with cirrhosis and those with F3 fibrosis, the incidence of HCC was 2.1 per 100 person-years and 0.5 per 100 person-years, respectively.

• Older age and prior decompensation were noted to be linked with an increased incidence of HCC among patients with cirrhosis.

• Among patients with cirrhosis, there appeared a decrease in the incidence of HCC over time after HCV cure and patients with younger age and compensated cirrhosis had the lowest incidence.

• In F3 fibrosis, there was a substantially lower incidence that is below the recommended threshold for cost-effective screening.

• Based on the findings, researchers support the development of validated predictive models that could aid in better identification of at-risk individuals, especially among patients with F3 fibrosis.