Specifically, patients with elevated levels of both IL-6 and YKL-40 were more likely older, female and non-smokers, and had lower BMI, higher NIHSS and mRS scores, index event of ischemic stroke, higher leukocyte count, and more likely had histories of ischemic stroke, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation, but no hypercholesterolemia (Table 1). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is atrial fibrillation.