The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups, which included the unadjusted BMI, history of heart failure hospitalization, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, CABG, PCI, diabetes mellitus, serum albumin level, renal function (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, estHimated glomerular filtration rate, and creatinine clearance), NT-proBNP, LVEF, and other laboratory values (albumin and hemoglobin). Here, NPPB is linked to heart failure.