Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yongkang District, Tainan, Taiwan

Chun-Chi Yang & Hsing-Tao Kuo

Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chung-Feng Huang, Ming-Lun Yeh, Jee-Fu Huang, Pei-Chien Tsai, Chia-Yen Dai, Wang-Long Chuang & Ming-Lung Yu

Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, College of Medicine, Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chung-Feng Huang

Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, ChiaYi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

Te-Sheng Chang

College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Te-Sheng Chang

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Martin De Porres Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

Ching-Chu Lo

Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chao-Hung Hung & Ming-Lung Yu

Division of Gastroenterology, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chien-Wei Huang

Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Lee-Won Chong

School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Lee-Won Chong

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

Pin-Nan Cheng

College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

Pin-Nan Cheng

Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine, Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Ming-Lun Yeh, Jee-Fu Huang, Pei-Chien Tsai, Chia-Yen Dai & Ming-Lung Yu

Center for Digestive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Cheng-Yuan Peng

School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Cheng-Yuan Peng

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Chien-Yu Cheng

School of Medicine and Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medicine and Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Jee-Fu Huang & Ming-Lung Yu

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taitung Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung, Taiwan

Ming-Jong Bair

Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Ming-Jong Bair

Liver Research Unit, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Keelung, Taiwan

Chih-Lang Lin

Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

Chi-Chieh Yang

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yuan’s General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Szu-Jen Wang

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Tsai-Yuan Hsieh & Chun-Ting Chen

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Tzong-Hsi Lee

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan

Pei-Lun Lee

Wen-Chih Wu Clinic, Fengshan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Wen-Chih Wu

Department of Gastroenterology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Chih-Lin Lin

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

Wei-Wen Su

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Sheng-Shun Yang

Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and School of Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Tzu Chi University, Taipei, Taiwan

Chia-Chi Wang

Liver Center, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Jui-Ting Hu

Division of Gastroenterology, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), Tainan, Taiwan

Lein-Ray Mo

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine Tri-Service, General Hospital Penghu Branch, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Chun-Ting Chen

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine; and Healthcare and Service Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Yi-Hsiang Huang & Han-Chieh Lin

Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

Yi-Hsiang Huang & Han-Chieh Lin

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Chun-Chao Chang

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Chun-Chao Chang

Yang Ming Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

Chia-Sheng Huang

Penghu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Penghu, Taiwan

Guei-Ying Chen

National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan

Chien-Neng Kao

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chi-Ming Tai

School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chi-Ming Tai

Department of Internal Medicine, Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Chun-Jen Liu & Jia-Horng Kao

Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

Mei-Hsuan Lee

School of Medicine, Tzuchi University, Hualien, Taiwan

Kuo-Chih Tseng

Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan

Kuo-Chih Tseng

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

Chi-Yi Chen

Chun Chi Yang, and Chung Feng Huang conceived of the presented idea, collected data, performed statistical analysis, and wrote the main manuscript, both contributed equally. Chi Yi Chen, and Ming Lung Yu were responsible for the study conception and design, checked the data and revised the manuscript text and contributed equally. Te Sheng Chang, Ching Chu Lo, Chao Hung Hung, Chien Wei Huang, Lee Won Chong, Pin Nan Cheng, Ming Lun Yeh, Cheng Yuan Peng, Chien Yu Cheng, Jee Fu Huang, Ming Jong Bair, Chih Lang Lin, Chi Chieh Yang, Szu Jen Wang, Tsai Yuan Hsieh, Tzong Hsi Lee, Pei Lun Lee, Wen Chih Wu, Chih Lin Lin, Wei Wen Su, Sheng Shun Yang, Chia Chi Wang, Jui Ting Hu, Lein Ray Mo, Chun Ting Chen, Yi Hsiang Huang, Chun Chao Chang, Chia Sheng Huang, Guei Ying Chen, Chien Neng Kao, Chi Ming Tai, Chun Jen Liu, Mei Hsuan Lee, Hsing Tao Kuo, Pei Chien Tsai, Chia Yen Dai, Jia Horng Kao, Han Chieh Lin, Wang Long Chuang, and Kuo Chih Tseng participated in the program and prescribed treatment for patents, contributed to data collection, and reviewed the manuscript. All authors reviewed early drafts of the manuscript and read and approved the final version for publication.