Compared to controls, DCM patients had higher heart rate, creatinine, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.05) and more severe NYHA functional class. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is familial dilated cardiomyopathy.