Normocytic anemia was associated with increased serum levels of CRP (p = 0.003; borderline statistical significance considering multiple hypothesis testing; Table S8), and IL-8 (p = 0.001), and decreased serum levels of albumin (p < 0.001), while microcytic anemia did not show significant associations with serum CRP, albumin, or cytokines (Table S8). Here, CRP is linked to normocytic anemia.