They had lower prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus; lower mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference; lower fasting triglyceride, total cholesterol, CRP, vWF, D-dimer, and NT-proBNP levels; and higher plasma vitamin C, FEV1, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Here, NPPB is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.