The highest tertile of circulating NT-proBNP level was significantly associated with HS as compared with the lowest tertile of circulating NT-proBNP level (unstandardized β: 3.96, 95%Cl: 1.25–6.66, P = 0.004) after age, sex, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, diuretics usage, eGFR, urine PCR, and serum albumin and hemoglobin levels. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.