In a previous study [31], a machine learning algorithm was used to develop and validate a predictive model for the risk of ESKD in patients with diabetic nephropathy, with a random forest algorithm identifying five major factors: cystatin-C, serum albumin, hemoglobin, 24-h urine urinary total protein, and eGFR (AUC 0.90 and ACC 82.65%). Here, CST3 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.