The independent variables entered in the model at step one were: demographic variables (age, gender, education), duration of diabetes, glycaemic control (HbA1c level), cardiovascular diseases (MI, angina, stroke), cardiovascular risk factors (BMI, smoking status, hiperlipidemia, previous HA or use of HA drugs), microvascular complications, number of co-morbid conditions, levels of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is diabetes mellitus.