Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant health problem in China, with high incidence and mortality rates. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors of elderly HCC patients in southwest China and construct a new prognostic model for predicting overall survival (OS).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected clinical data from 958 patients with liver cancer on January 1, 2019, and December 12, 2020. The Cox regression model was used to test the significance of all available variables as prognostic factors of OS. Independent prognostic factors were identified based on multivariable analysis to model nomograms. The concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC), the Time-dependent C-index, the Time-dependent AUC, the calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were measured to assess the model performance of the nomogram.

Conclusions: The comprehensive risk prediction model for OS in HCC patients developed through this retrospective cohort study offers a promising avenue for improving clinical outcomes and patient care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) age ≥ 18 years; (2) had pathologically confirmed primary liver cancer; (3) received the main treatment in our hospital; (4) provided baseline clinical information and follow-up information; (5) completed the entire course of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• no follow-up records and a history of cancer treatments.

The data used in the retrospective cohort study were obtained from 958 patients with HCC from the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital tumor database between Jan 1, 2019, and Dec 12, 2020.