In contrast, baseline serum bicarbonate level positively correlated with male gender (ρ = 0.127; p = 0.007), presence of diabetes (ρ = 0.125; p = 0.009), hemoglobin (ρ = 0.226; p < 0.001), total cholesterol levels (ρ = 0.130; p = 0.006), and residual GFR (ρ = 0.158; p = 0.001), whereas it inversely correlated with serum albumin (ρ = -0.227; p < 0.001), serum CRP levels (ρ = -0.182; p < 0.001), peritoneal Kt/V urea (ρ = -0.267; p < 0.001), and nPCR (ρ = -0.177; p < 0.001). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.