The study utilized 458 COPD patients and 1657 non-COPD controls, where they were matched for age, sex and body mass index with the study finding that patients with COPD had an increase in aortic pulse-wave velocity, systemic inflammation as evidenced by elevated C-reactive protein levels, an increase in carotid artery thickness, arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis [76]. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.