Age, sex, body mass index, and most clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups, while heart failure and diabetes mellitus incidence, as well as glycosylated haemoglobin A1C and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were significantly increased in the high legumain group compared to those in the low legumain group (all P < 0.05; Table 1). Here, NPPB is linked to diabetes mellitus.