Overview
- About 12% of U.S. adults had heard of cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic syndrome, according to an August Harris Poll of 4,007 people released Oct. 20.
- Nearly 90% of adults have at least one CKM risk factor such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight or reduced kidney function.
- Misconceptions are widespread, with 68% favoring or unsure about treating conditions one by one and 42% believing or unsure that a healthy heart is insulated from other organ damage.
- The AHA’s CKM Health Initiative has debuted a website and explainer video to help people understand the links among heart, kidney and metabolic health and how to act early.
- CKM is a staged framework (0–4) tying heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity together, and experts say many cases are reversible with lifestyle changes and appropriate treatment.