The association between liver disease and stroke risk: A cross-sectional study with machine learning in a large-scale Chinese cohort

This cross-sectional analysis identifies a significant association between liver disease and stroke in Chinese adults aged ≥45 years. While machine learning was explored, it served primarily as an analytical complement, with results underscoring the critical impact of methodological rigor, particularly in handling class imbalance. The observational design precludes causal inference, but the findings highlight a concurrent link warranting further longitudinal investigation.