We found that MMP-3 and MMP-12 levels of the cohort were comparable to other published patient populations, including healthy controls and patient cohorts with emphysema or rheumatoid arthritis.[30], [42] MMP-3 was found to be more protective than MMP-12 with an odds ratio of 0.267 compared to 0.462. This evidence concerns the gene MMP12 and pulmonary emphysema.