After adjusting for potential confounders including age, sex, BMI, etiology of heart failure (ischemic vs. non-ischemic), prior admission for HF, parenteral inotropic use, serum creatinine concentration, elevated BNP/NT-proBNP, NYHA class III-IV on admission, and smoking status, DM was still independently associated with overall mortality (adjusted hazard rate [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.22). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and heart failure.