Although this could partially explain the significantly higher risk of cardiac complications and death seen in patients with CRP levels > 3 mg/L, compared to those with CRP levels < 1 mg/L, this higher risk was further confirmed also in the sensitivity analysis excluding patients with pneumonia, sepsis, and connective tissue disease or who utilized antibiotics or steroids at least one month before the index event. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is pneumonia.