As well, there was a trend between first quartile of fT3 and higher cardiac-related mortality rates during first 30-days after a cardiac event (data not shown): patients with first quartile of fT3 consisted of older women with more severe HF (Killip class>I), followed by more cases of DM, higher NT-pro-BNP and troponin I levels, lower T3, reduced hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.