Patients with anemia had greater prevalence of DKD, higher levels of urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), serum creatinine, BUN, urine α1-MG, urine β2-MG, urine NAG/Cr, hsCRP, Cystatin C, homocysteine and lower eGFR, as compared to the patients without anemia. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is anemia (phenotype).