Strengths and limitations
REGRESSION, ATHEROSCLEROSIS
To our knowledge, this is the largest population-based study on the association between NT-proBNP and CAP in patients with CHD. This study validated this association in groups with different glucose metabolism, age, and sex to examine the characteristics of different populations. The analyses included possible confounders to exclude interference in the results. In addition, we investigated the diagnostic value of NT-proBNP for CAP, which may be useful for expanding the clinical application of this marker for monitoring and diagnosing atherosclerosis. However, this study had some limitations. As an observational study, it was not suitable for investigating the causal relationship between NT-proBNP and CAP. Additionally, factors such as glucose-lowering medications and body mass index (BMI) that are currently used as important confounders were not included in the regression model due to missing data. Finally, because this was a multicenter study, there may have been some unavoidable between-center bias that could have affected our results.