Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome: prevalence, risks, disease trajectories, and early-stage management

Approximately 90% of US adults are affected by cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.

• CKM syndrome arises from the combination of metabolic dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, leading to increased mortality risk.
• Stage 2, characterized by metabolic risk factors or early chronic kidney disease, is the most common category, impacting nearly half of adults in Western populations.
• Transitions between stages are significant, with 34% of individuals in stage 1 progressing to higher stages, which increases cardiovascular mortality risk.
• The biological mechanisms involved include dysfunctional fat storage, insulin resistance, and blood vessel damage, which contribute to harm in both the kidneys and heart.
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease may play a growing role in the progression of CKM syndrome.
• Interventions vary by stage, ranging from lifestyle changes and weight-loss medications in early stages to multidrug therapies for advanced disease.

AI simplified