Remarkably, this association remained significant (HR 1.73 (95% CI 1.07– 2.81; p = 0.026)) after an additional adjustment for surrogates of systolic heart function (NT-proBNP), for the size of myocardial necrosis (troponin I), and for anemia (hemoglobin). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and anemia (phenotype).