This hypothesis is supported by the finding that YKL-40 and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) are independent markers with only weak intercorrelation that seem to predict overall as well as cardiovascular mortality in a synergistic way in the general population above 50 years of age without known diabetes or CVD over a 5 year period (Table 2) [32]. This evidence concerns the gene CHI3L1 and diabetes mellitus.