This was also the case after adjusting for confounders (baseline white cell count, haemoglobin, platelet count, urea, creatinine, eGFR, albumin, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular event, congestive cardiac failure, chronic obstructive airways disease, statin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker usage, anatomical location of the lesion and endovascular device, S1 Table; HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.4, p = .9). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.