Diseases do not always have linear symptoms. For example, if you have heart problems, then the symptoms may not always be chest pain; it could also show up in different ways.
This shows how interconnected our organs are, one organ lacking, could burden the other causing problems. Similarly, did you know there is a disease that affects not just your heart, but also your kidney and digestive health? This disease is much more common than you think, however, a new survey showed that most people do not know about it.
A recent survey by the American Heart Association (AHA) found a huge gap in health knowledge: a staggering 9 out of 10 American adults have never heard of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome. This lack of awareness is a major problem because the condition is so widespread; it affects or puts at risk nearly 90% of all adults.
CKM syndrome is a relatively new term used to describe the coexistence of several serious health problems at the same time: heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. The AHA defined it to make people realize that these conditions don’t happen in isolation; they are deeply connected. Even though few people know the name CKM syndrome, the survey did find an upside: most people who learned about it were very interested in getting more information.
What is CKM and Who Is At Risk?
CKM syndrome is all about the dangerous link between three essential body parts: the heart (cardiovascular system), the kidneys, and the metabolic system. The metabolic system is like your body energy factory; it handles how you create, use, and store energy, which directly influences your weight and blood sugar levels. When one of these systems starts to fail, it often puts extra strain on the others, creating a vicious cycle that quickly makes all the conditions worse.
A 2024 study published in JAMA found that the following are common risk factors for CKM syndrome, and nearly 90% of Americans have at least one:
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal cholesterol
- High blood sugar
- Excess weight
- Reduced kidney function
The key message is that having several of these risk factors together is much more dangerous than having just one. It greatly increases your chances of having a life-threatening event like a heart attack or stroke. The good news is that CKM syndrome isn’t set in stone; for most people, it can be reversed or significantly improved by changing what they eat, increasing physical activity, and getting the right medical care.
Do People Know What Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Is?
The AHA survey, which collected responses from about 4,000 U.S. adults in 2025, made it clear that a public education effort is urgently needed. The main results showed low awareness but high interest:
- 12% had heard about CKM syndrome
- 72% were interested in learning more
- 79% though it was important to understand CKM
The survey also uncovered some dangerous misconceptions about managing health:
- 68% of adults incorrectly believe that the best way to handle heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions is to treat them one at a time, or they simply don’t know the best approach.
- 42% of adults either doubt or are unsure that a healthy heart could actually be damaged by problems in other organ systems.
AHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eduardo Sanchez stressed that since these body systems are so interconnected, they must be treated in a coordinated way by healthcare providers.
How Can We Prevent CKM Syndrome?
The American Heart Association (AHA) knows that almost no one has heard of CKM syndrome, so they are starting a major effort called the CKM Health Initiative.
The main goal is simple, to teach the public how the heart, kidneys, and metabolism are all connected. By showing people these links, the AHA hopes to encourage everyone to act early to prevent major health issues like heart attacks and heart failure.
Teaching the Public
The AHA is making easy-to-read materials and launching a website to clearly explain the connections. They are stressing that everyone needs to get regular check-ups for important health numbers like blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, blood sugar, and kidney function.
Training Doctors
The AHA is working directly with doctors and healthcare teams across the country. The goal is to get doctors who treat different conditions to work together better so they can provide coordinated care for patients who have multiple health problems.
In addition to this, the AHA is taking a major leadership step. They are preparing to release the first-ever official clinical guidelines for CKM syndrome in early 2026. These guidelines will give doctors a clear, tested set of rules for how to best diagnose and treat the condition.