Study Reveals Artery Damage in Nearly 80% of Young Adults

Understanding CKM Syndrome Stages and Arterial Injury in Young Adults

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome explains how heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions deeply connect rather than occurring in isolation, according to Chiadi Ndumele, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Researchers investigating a cohort of young adults in the United States discovered signs of subclinical injury in carotid arteries, which carry oxygenated blood to the brain. Participants averaged 23 years of age, yet some exhibited arterial thickness markers normally expected in a 33-year-old. The study found that 40 percent of the 1,283 participants were classified as stage 1 CKM, 36 percent as stage 2, and 2.8 percent as stage 3. The more advanced a participant’s stage of CKM, the more likely they were to show signs of injury to the carotid arteries.

Measuring Risk Through Life’s Essential 8 Scores

To gauge participants’ risk factors, investigators relied on “Life’s Essential 8 scores,” an American Heart Association-created evaluation system measuring nicotine exposure, sleep, diet quality, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels. Study authors noted that diet and physical activity scores were especially poor among the cohort, which focused on urban populations with many participants coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. While none of the participants reached the final stage of CKM—which involves diagnosed cardiovascular disease—co-author and cardiologist Nilay Shah from Northwestern University emphasizes that components of the syndrome are affecting people as early as young adulthood or even adolescence.

The American Heart Association first defined CKM in 2023, followed by the publication of the first clinical guidelines for preventing and managing the syndrome co-authored by the AHA and the American College of Cardiology in 2024. A US national survey conducted last year found that 90 percent of respondents had not heard of CKM. However, identifying risk factors early allows for targeted prevention strategies. According to the study authors, the progression of CKM may be reversible through health interventions such as improving diet, increasing exercise, or taking drugs to boost metabolism, presenting opportunities for risk factor optimization through lifestyle and behavioral modification even before clinically elevated risk factor levels appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome?

CKM is a syndrome defined by the American Heart Association that explains how metabolic, kidney, and cardiovascular disorders work together to contribute to multiorgan complications and dangerous cardiovascular outcomes.

How many stages does CKM syndrome have?

There are four stages of CKM syndrome, ranging from early risk factors like prediabetes or excess fat up to advanced cardiovascular disease.

Can CKM syndrome progression be reversed?

Yes, study authors and cardiologists note that the progression of CKM may be reversible with health interventions such as improving diet, increasing exercise, and modifying lifestyle behaviors.

What are Life’s Essential 8 scores?

To quantify potential cardiovascular dangers, this combined index evaluates sleep, physical activity, nicotine exposure, diet quality, body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar.