After adjustment for potential confounders based on the multivariate Cox model, the correlation between diabetes on insulin and a higher occurrence of thromboembolic events remained significant (stepwise selection adjusted HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.37–3.54, p = 0.0011 vs no diabetes + diabetes not on insulin; HbA1c adjusted HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.12–4.05, p = 0.021 vs no diabetes) (Fig. 1). Here, INS is linked to diabetes mellitus.