UMOD and infection: These data add to previous literature, which consistently show that UMOD is inversely associated with outcomes, including CKD progression, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in persons with and without CKD.15,32,33 Furthermore, our results expand prior genome-wide association studies that suggest that UMOD variants may be protective against diabetic nephropathy susceptibility.34 Although the reasons for this relationship are unclear, it is hypothesized that UMOD reflects the distal tubule's protein synthetic capacity and protects against infection and injury.