What Is CKM Syndrome?

CKM syndrome is a relatively new term coined by the American Heart Association in 2023.

The presence of one condition often exacerbates the others, creating a vicious cycle that complicates management and treatment.

A mature adult woman is at a routine medical check. She is sitting on an examination table in a clinic. The nurse is using a blood pressure gauge to check the patient’s blood pressure.

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The reason to bring these three separate systems together is that they share common origins," he added.

Basically, they rise together and they fall together.

What we want is to vanquish or reduce all of them at the same time.

Compared to women, men were more likely to have advanced CKM syndrome stages.

Black adults were significantly more likely to have advanced stages than White adults.

And older adults tend to experience later stages of CKM syndrome, too.

When Is Your CKM Stage a Concern?

The four stages of CKM are established with specific criteria.

But at which stage should you be concerned?

Lifestyle modifications are paramount.

Reducing sodium intake and limiting processed foods can alleviate the strain on both the cardiovascular and renal systems.

Smoking cessation and moderate alcohol consumption are also vital steps in mitigating the risk factors associated with CKM syndrome.

They either followed the ZOE program or the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, Bulsiewicz said.

This encompasses many of the conditions that define stage 2 CKM syndrome.

In addition to lifestyle changes, medical management plays a crucial role.

Diuretics may also be used to manage fluid retention.

Statins are often prescribed to manage cholesterol levels, reducing cardiovascular risks.

Aggarwal R, Ostrominski JW, Vaduganathan M.Prevalence of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome stages in US adults, 2011-2020.JAMA.

Published online May 8, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.6892

American Heart Association.Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health.

American Kidney Fund.Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome.