NPPB and heart failure: For further analyses, Cox-regression analyses for a continuous increase of one unit logNT-proBNP showed a significant association with all-cause death in crude regression analysis (hazard ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.77–2.07) and a multivariable-adjusted model (age, sex, diabetes mellitus, LDL-C, arterial hypertension, active smoking, eGFR, history of heart failure, Fontaine stage and BMI) for traditional CV risk factors and heart failure (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.51–1.87).