People with obesity, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease can now be diagnosed with this newly named condition.
The American Heart Association announced Monday that the new term, called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM), is intended to be a diagnosis that signals people are at high risk of dying from heart disease. The detailed recommendation was published in the journal Circulation.
A third of US adults have at least three risk factors for heart disease, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, or kidney disease. The new diagnosis of CKM would be based on combined risk factors such as problems with weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function.
Here are the four stages of the CKM syndrome:
There are no risk factors for Stage 0, and those in this stage have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked every three or five years. For people in stage 0, maintaining a healthy weight is a priority.
Stage 1 includes people who have risk factors that include problems with body fat and weight, or who have pre-diabetes. People in Stage 1 should make healthy lifestyle changes and try to lose 5% of their body weight.
Stage 2 includes people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and people with kidney disease. The goal for people in stage 2 is to prevent heart and blood vessel disease or kidney failure. Medications that target kidney function or those that help with blood sugar and weight loss, such as Ozempic, could be considered in this stage.
Stage 3 includes people with signs of disease in their arteries or problems with heart function and is considered early cardiovascular disease without symptoms. This stage may require further medication management.
Stage 4 includes people who may have already had a stroke or a heart attack, or who have kidney failure or congestive heart failure.