The two groups were similar regarding gender, hypertension, dialysis vintage, BMI, WBC, HB, serum albumin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum potassium, sodium, calcium, uric acid, TC, TG, LDL-C, diabetic retinopathy, vascular access type, stroke history, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, smoking history, or BNP (P > 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and diabetic retinopathy.