Overall, there was no significant difference in gender distribution, age, BMI, proportions of smoking history, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure (NYHA I-II) and atrial fibrillation, peripheral blood parameters, Scr, Hs-CRP, blood lipid, HCY, HbA1c, NT-proBNP, FMD, as well as arterial stiffness indices and echocardiographic parameters between the two sets (P < 0.05). Here, CRP is linked to heart failure.