Mortality was associated with age, higher APACHE II and SOFA scores, higher incidence of using inotropic agents, higher C-reactive protein levels, and longer length of stay in the ICU, but also with lower incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower cholesterol, albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin levels (Table 1). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.