Patients in the upper tertile of baseline hs-CRP were older, were more likely to be male; had greater proportion of diabetes and pre-existing CVD; higher levels of body mass index, uric acid, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; lower levels of mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin, serum albumin, pre-albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to those in the lower tertile (P < 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and diabetes mellitus.