No matter your age, your heart, kidneys and metabolic health are connected

You may not have heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, but it might already be affecting you — no matter your age.

CKM syndrome refers to a complex disorder that links heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. It’s a condition that touches nearly every organ system and is associated with serious problems such as cognitive decline, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac death.

A recent national survey found that about 9 in 10 people were unfamiliar with CKM syndrome. Nearly that many adults also have at least one risk factor for it.

This isn’t just a concern for older adults, said Dr. Nilay S. Shah, an assistant professor of cardiology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “So many of the components of CKM are starting to affect people at younger ages — as early as young adulthood, or even adolescence.”

New research highlights that CKM syndrome is increasingly affecting younger adults in the U.S. Between 2010 and 2019, the cost of related care rose 37% among those ages 25-29 and 39% among those 30-34. Such research is considered preliminary until full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

CKM refers to conditions related to the heart, kidneys and how the body processes energy. Those systems are closely connected. The heart pumps blood. The kidneys filter out waste and regulate blood pressure. Extra energy can get stored as fat and affect blood sugar levels, which can lead to problems that affect the heart and kidneys.

CKM has been described as a way to assess overall health rather than focusing on individual components. When one component of CKM health functions poorly, it can make the others worse and put you at serious risk for CKM syndrome.

“All of these organs and body functions are related, and CKM helps us understand how well these body systems are functioning,” Shah said.

Excess body fat is often the starting point for CKM syndrome. Body fat can cause inflammation that damages the heart, arteries, kidneys and liver. It can also lead to insulin resistance, which can result in Type 2 diabetes.

But while body fat is an important factor, it’s not the only one, Shah said. “CKM is a more comprehensive, bigger picture view of your health,” he said. And while extra body fat can contribute to people moving from being healthy toward heart disease, “it is one of many different components of what increases heart disease risk.”

Other CKM risk factors include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose and reduced kidney function. Younger people who feel healthy might be inclined to ignore CKM risk factors. That would be a mistake, Shah said.

CKM syndrome is categorized by stages that reflect a person’s risk factors, ranging from 0 (no risk factors) to 4 (someone being treated for cardiovascular conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart failure or stroke). Research has shown that only 18% of people ages 20-44 were at Stage 0.

So, although CKM applies to people across all ages, Shah said, “starting to move from health toward disease can start as early as childhood, especially if children experience excess body weight, high blood sugar, high blood pressure or abnormalities in any function related to the heart or kidney systems.”

Even if someone is healthy and does not have any CKM risk factors, Shah said, the most effective time to prevent heart disease and CKM syndrome is early. Maintaining good habits in young adulthood “sets you up for good CKM health over your entire life.”

Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight and not smoking — “these are the cornerstones of maintaining overall CKM health,” Shah said.

Prevention also includes getting regular checkups and “knowing your numbers,” Shah said. “Talk to your doctor about what kinds of health conditions you should be screened for at your age. Many young people would be recommended to be screened for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.”

Your doctor might also consider screening for any kidney problems, depending on your age or any other health conditions, he said. “If you are concerned about your weight, it’s important to start a conversation with your doctor about it.”