Most Adults Unaware of CKM Syndrome, AHA Survey Finds

Credit: MU Health Care

A new survey from the American Heart Association (AHA) reveals that nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults have never heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome — a newly recognized condition that links heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. Yet this condition is surprisingly common: Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one risk factor that contributes to it.

CKM syndrome highlights the powerful connection between three key systems in the body — the heart, the kidneys, and the metabolic system, which controls how your body uses and stores energy. When one of these systems isn’t functioning well, it can put extra strain on the others, creating a cycle that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

“We want people to know that it’s really common to have heart, kidney and metabolic risk factors at the same time,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the AHA’s chief medical officer for prevention. “It is reassuring that once the CKM connection was defined, nearly three-quarters of those responding understood that it was important and wanted to learn more.”

Common risk factors for CKM syndrome include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight and reduced kidney function. The good news? For most people, CKM syndrome is preventable and even reversible through lifestyle changes like healthy eating, regular exercise and proper medical care.

The AHA plans to release the first-ever national guidelines for CKM syndrome in 2026, marking a major shift in how these interconnected conditions are diagnosed and treated. Instead of treating heart, kidney and metabolic problems separately, experts say these systems should be managed together, through coordinated, collaborative care.

Key insights from the 2025 AHA survey show a major gap in public awareness:

• Only 12% of adults had heard of CKM syndrome or CKM health.
• 79% said it’s important to learn more about CKM health, and 72% expressed interest in understanding how it’s treated and diagnosed.
• 68% of adults mistakenly believed that it’s best to manage one condition at a time.
• 42% thought a healthy heart couldn’t be affected by problems with other organs — or weren’t sure.

According to Sanchez, “The heart, kidney and metabolic systems are connected and, as such, should be treated in a coordinated way.”

To raise awareness, the AHA’s CKM Health Initiative is launching educational tools, videos and an online resource hub to help people understand how these systems work together — and how early action can prevent serious complications. One AHA explainer video uses a simple visual to describe how the heart pumps blood, the metabolic system turns sugar into energy and the kidneys filter waste from the blood — all processes that depend on one another to keep the body healthy.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll in August 2025, included 4,000 U.S. adults. The AHA encourages health care teams to join the effort to provide team-based care for people managing multiple chronic conditions.

“CKM health is about your overall health,” said Sanchez. “It’s a full circle. You can take care of your overall health with regular checks of your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, blood sugar and kidney function.”