Nearly 80 percent of young adults in their 20s show signs of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, putting them on course for heart disease, researchers in Boston found.
The study analyzed data from 1,283 adults under age 30 and revealed that most participants were unaware they had the newly named condition, which connects organ damage across the body.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, known as CKM, recognizes how complications including obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes affect multiple organs simultaneously, such as the heart, kidneys and brain. Because these organ systems function together, poor health in one can worsen the others, creating a cumulative risk cycle.
Early stages and national prevalence
In its early stages, CKM generally causes no symptoms, leaving many patients unaware of their diagnosis. Patients can spend decades in the initial phases before the complication advances through its four recognized stages.
Nationwide, an estimated 90 percent of Americans have CKM syndrome, but only about one in 10 has ever heard of the condition.
Additional results showed that nearly 40 percent of study participants were estimated to have high blood pressure, kidney disease or a thickening of their arteries, all of which can produce no early symptoms. About four percent were estimated to have arteries roughly a decade older than their actual age.
Breakdown of syndrome stages
Dr Donald Lloyd-Jones, a cardiologist at Boston Medical Center who led the study, said that staging helps identify young adults who may face rapid arterial damage and long-term risk.
"The study shows that CKM syndrome staging... [is] complementary for identifying adults younger than age 30 who may be on the fast track for arterial injury, plaque build-up and, ultimately, at higher risk for future cardiovascular events," Lloyd-Jones said.
Dr Nilay Shah, a cardiologist at Northwestern University and co-author of the study, noted that components of CKM are developing earlier than in past generations.
"All of these organs and body functions are related and CKM helps us understand how well these body systems are functioning," Shah said. "So many of the components of CKM are starting to affect people at younger ages, as early as young adulthood, or even adolescence."
Overall, 40.2 percent of participants were diagnosed with CKM stage one. This stage generally presents no symptoms and is defined by excess body fat, including having a body mass index in the overweight range or a waist circumference exceeding 34.6 inches for women or 40 inches for men.
Warning signs and risk factors
A further 36 percent of participants were diagnosed with CKM stage two. At this stage, patients develop high blood pressure alongside conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
While early kidney disease and high blood pressure typically trigger no warning signs, advanced kidney disease can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and sleep problems. Warning signs of diabetes include constant thirst, losing weight without trying, tiredness and feeling irritable or moody.
Stage three CKM was diagnosed in three percent of participants. This phase occurs when plaque begins to build up in major blood vessels and blood tests reveal signs of heart strain.
Participants in the study were 1,283 adults in their 20s who were overweight, followed a poor diet, were less likely to exercise, and were more likely to come from urban or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Medical context and prevention guidelines
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome is a clinical framework established to address the overlap between cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States.
Boston Medical Center is an academic medical center located in Boston, Massachusetts, while Northwestern University is a research institution based in Illinois. The research team published their findings in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, a medical journal run by the American Heart Association.
The authors noted that limitations of the study included using a participant group that was not representative of the broader population of adults in their 20s, which may have influenced the overall results.
Recommended health steps
To prevent the progression of CKM, researchers recommended early medical interventions, particularly for patients diagnosed at younger ages.
The study authors advised focusing on the American Heart Association's Life's Essential Eight framework for cardiovascular health. The guidelines recommend regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, following healthy eating and sleeping schedules, and managing levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
"For people in their 20s, we want to focus on improving cardiovascular health," Lloyd-Jones said. "Life's Essential Eight Framework is designed for measuring, monitoring and improving cardiovascular health at any age, but especially in adolescents and young adults."
