The patient characteristics that were assessed in this study were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, dyslipidaemia, anticoagulant (warfarin) use, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use, beta blocker use, digitalis use, diuretic use and the presence of atrial fibrillation. The gene discussed is ACE; the disease is diabetes mellitus.