After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and oxygen saturation at admission, a doubling of circulating adiponectin was associated with a 38% reduction in odds of 90-day mortality (OR 0.62, CI 0.43–0.89) and a 40% reduction in odds of respiratory failure (OR 0.60, CI 0.42–0.86). The gene discussed is ADIPOQ; the disease is diabetes mellitus.