Based on earlier studies, we selected the following clinical parameters known to influence circulating BNP levels for analysis: age, sex,4 LVEDP,5 15 blood pressure,16 heart rate,7 body mass index (BMI),6 LVEF,17 18 end-diastolic volume,17 LVEDD,18 cholesterol levels,19 anaemia,20 renal function,7 20 atrial fibrillation21 and diabetes mellitus.22 The results of univariate analyses of the association between BNPdis and the selected parameters are shown in table 2. This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and anemia.