In univariate analysis advanced age (age >75 years), ACS on presentation, history of myocardial infarction (MI), current smoking status, elevated BMI (>25 kg/m2), AHG in those patients with ACS, DM, CKD, CRP and NYHA ≥2 were significant determinants of elevated GDF-15 plasma levels (Table 2). Here, GDF15 is linked to diabetes mellitus.