In both analyses, we observed that conventional risk factors (male sex, BMI, smoking, prevalent MI, and prevalent AF) were more strongly related to HF in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals than the circulating biomarkers, except for nT-proBNP which was associated with HF in both groups (HR 1.26 [CI 1.19 − 1.34] for diabetic and 1.43 [1.39 − 1.47] for non-diabetic individuals). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and atrial fibrillation.