The selected covariates were: (1) age; (2) sex; (3) smoking status (never, previous, or current smoker); (4) BMI; (5) CKD stage; (6) insulin use; (7) hypertension; (8) dyslipidemia; (9) β-blocker use; and (10) previous history of cerebrovascular disease. This evidence concerns the gene INS and metabolic syndrome.