There is provided a method of determining whether a subject belongs to a first or a second group of subjects, wherein the risk of having or developing of a renal impairment is higher in the first group than in the second group, comprising the steps of: a) measuring an amount of fibulin 1 in a sample from the subject to obtain a sample value; b) comparing the sample value to a reference value; and if the sample value is higher than the reference value, c1) concluding that the subject belongs to the first group; and if the sample value is lower than the previous sample value, c2) concluding that the subject belongs to the second group. Associated means are also provided.