NPPB and chronic kidney disease: The RCS model was adjusted for multiple confounders, including use of diuretics, inotropes, vasodilators, ACEI/ARB, β-receptor blockers, statins, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet agents, as well as patient-specific factors such as age, sex, BMI, NYHA, SBP, DBP, hs-cTn, BNP, and comorbidities (MI, CVD, DM, CKD, LD, COPD).