The global BRIDGE study is a large-scale, longitudinal cohort study that aimed to improve understanding of real-life management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from diagnosis to death. Data were collected retrospectively from January 2005 to September 2012 from 42 sites in 14 countries, including 18,031 patients. The study found that Asia accounted for 67% of patients, Europe for 20%, and North America for 13%. Hepatitis C virus was the most common risk factor in North America, Europe, and Japan, while hepatitis B virus was the primary risk factor in China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The most common Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage at diagnosis was C in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea, and A in Taiwan and Japan. Across all stages, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was the most frequent first-line treatment in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea, while percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were more common in Japan, and resection in Taiwan. Survival from first HCC treatment varied significantly by region, with median overall survival not reached for Taiwan and 60, 33, 31, 24, and 23 months for Japan, North America, South Korea, Europe, and China, respectively (P < 0.0001). The study confirmed regional trends in patient demographics and HCC risk factors, documented treatment heterogeneity across regions, and emphasized the need for earlier HCC diagnosis worldwide.The global BRIDGE study is a large-scale, longitudinal cohort study that aimed to improve understanding of real-life management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from diagnosis to death. Data were collected retrospectively from January 2005 to September 2012 from 42 sites in 14 countries, including 18,031 patients. The study found that Asia accounted for 67% of patients, Europe for 20%, and North America for 13%. Hepatitis C virus was the most common risk factor in North America, Europe, and Japan, while hepatitis B virus was the primary risk factor in China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The most common Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage at diagnosis was C in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea, and A in Taiwan and Japan. Across all stages, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was the most frequent first-line treatment in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea, while percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were more common in Japan, and resection in Taiwan. Survival from first HCC treatment varied significantly by region, with median overall survival not reached for Taiwan and 60, 33, 31, 24, and 23 months for Japan, North America, South Korea, Europe, and China, respectively (P < 0.0001). The study confirmed regional trends in patient demographics and HCC risk factors, documented treatment heterogeneity across regions, and emphasized the need for earlier HCC diagnosis worldwide.