In addition, Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, alcohol consumption, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, smoking, dyslipidemia, history of ischemic heart disease, LVEF and LV mass/BSA, showed significant results for both IGFBP7 (HR:3.97 [95% CI 1.16–13.58], p = 0.028) and GDF15 (HR: 2.04 [1.30–3.19], p = 0.002). This evidence concerns the gene IGFBP7 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.