C1QTNF9 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: The results of this study were in line with those of Chang Hee Jung et al., who reported a positive association of CTRP9 levels with BMI and arterial stiffness [19] and a study by Asada et al. in which a positive association between serum CTRP9 levels and atherosclerosis in T2DM patients was demonstrated [18].