The Cox model consistently demonstrated a significant association between pedal MAC and mortality in both the crude model (hazard ratio [HR] 5.60, 95% CI 2.61–12.02, p < .001) and after adjusting for sex, age, coronary artery disease, hemoglobin, and albumin (HR 4.26, 95% CI 1.90–9.52, p < .001) among patients with DFUs but without PAD. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is peripheral arterial disease.