Mean age and serum adiponectin, FBG and BNP levels at baseline were significantly higher in men with anemia (n = 33) than in men without anemia (n = 411) at follow-up (age, 66.7 vs. 61.2 years, P <0.01; adiponectin, 9.9 vs. 7.1 μg/mL, P <0.01; FBG, 103.4 vs. 96.3 mg/dL, P = 0.02; BNP, 18.4 vs. 16.5 pg/mL, P <0.01). The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is anemia (phenotype).