You can reverse CKM syndrome before it kills you. That’s because it’s mostly a lifestyle-driven condition rather than genetic or hereditary.
Most U.S. adults have never heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, even though it affects nearly 90% in some way.
CKM syndrome is a relatively new term that brings together several common health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity.
A survey (as of 2026) from the American Heart Association shows that while awareness of CKM syndrome is very low, interest is high.
Do you have CKM’s very common risk factors?
Nearly 90% of adults in the U.S. have at least one risk factor tied to CKM syndrome.
- High blood pressure
- Poor cholesterol profile
- High blood sugar
- Surplus body fat
- Compromised kidney function
When these issues show up together, the risk of serious problems like heart attack, stroke and heart failure increases far more than when they happen alone.
But as you’ll notice, the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome can be reversed with lifestyle changes; you just have to be willing to make them.
- Healthier eating habits, less ultra-processed food, lower sodium intake
- Scheduled exercise sessions
- Regular medical checkups
According to Dr. Eduardo Sanchez of the American Heart Association, it’s very common for heart, kidney and metabolic problems to overlap.
The challenge is that many people still think of these conditions as separate issues, even though they are closely linked inside the body.
How the Heart Kidneys and Metabolism Work Together
The health of your cardiovascular system, kidneys and metabolic factors focuses on how these systems function at team level.
The metabolic system controls how the body creates, uses and stores energy, which directly affects blood sugar levels and body weight.
These systems depend on one another.
If one starts to struggle, it puts extra strain on the others.
Over time, this can create a cycle that raises the risk of developing CKM syndrome.
To address this, the American Heart Association plans to release its first clinical guidelines specifically focused on CKM syndrome in early 2026.
What the Survey Shows About Public Awareness
Only a small percentage of people said they had ever heard of CKM syndrome.
Many wanted information on how CKM syndrome is diagnosed and treated.
A large number also believed health conditions should be managed one at a time, or were unsure how multiple conditions should be handled together.
Some respondents even thought that a healthy heart would not be affected by problems in other organs, which isn’t true.
For example, in kidney disease, the blood isn’t adequately filtered of toxins.
So you’ll have “toxic” blood running through your heart. Obviously, this won’t be good for the cardiovascular system.
Helping People Take Action Earlier
Through its CKM Health Initiative, the American Heart Association is providing educational tools and online resources to help people understand how heart, kidney and metabolic health are linked.
The goal is to help people take steps earlier to lower their risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The organization is also working with healthcare teams across the country to encourage more coordinated care for people living with multiple chronic conditions.
A Simple Way to Understand CKM Health
A new educational video explains CKM health using simple ideas and visuals.
It shows how the heart pumps blood through the body, how the metabolic system turns sugar from the blood into energy, and how waste products are returned to the blood.
The kidneys then filter that waste and help control fluid balance and blood pressure.
Blood pressure, in turn, affects how hard the heart has to work.
It’s a continuous loop, with each system influencing the others.
How the Survey Was Conducted
The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll in August 2025 on behalf of the American Heart Association. About 4,000 U.S. adults took part in the study.
The data were weighted to reflect the U.S. population, and results are considered accurate within a small margin of error.
As with all surveys, some limitations exist, including how questions were worded and who chose to respond.
Learn more through the American Heart Association’s CKM Health Initiative.
