CRP and diabetes mellitus: There was a statistically significant association between GLS and aortic PWV, which remained following adjustment for relevant traditional risk factors (Model 2: age, gender, diabetes, systolic BP, diastolic BP, HF, BMI, inducible ischemia) and CKD-related risk factors (Model 3: addition of eGFR, CRP, corrected calcium and uremic toxins to Model 2).