Furthermore, P-NT-proBNP levels were higher in patients with atherosclerosis in one vascular territory (median [interquartile range]; 47.5 [23.1-83.8] ng/l) and in patients with atherosclerosis in two or three vascular territories (90.6 [25.3-227.5 ng/l]) compared to patients without atherosclerosis (32.6 (12.7-95.0) ng/l, p = 0.005). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and atherosclerosis.