A1AG, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein; BMI, body mass index; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; DM, diabetes mellitus; EF, ejection fraction; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; Hb, hemoglobin; HTN, hypertension; MHD, maintenance hemodialysis; pro-BNP, pro-brain natriuretic peptide; SE, standard error; SPAP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.