Hazard risks (HR (95% confidence interval), 1 SD increase in ln2 variable) of first-time incidence of myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke during follow-up as predicted by continuous YKL-40 levels and 4th quartile YKL-40 values. The gene discussed is CHI3L1; the disease is myocardial ischemia.