79% of Young Adults Show Signs of Cardiovascular, Kidney, Metabolic Issues

• A recent study has found that around 79% of adults in their 20s already show signs of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.
• CKM syndrome links obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease.
• Prevention and awareness in your 20s may help lower risk and improve long-term heart and kidney health.

Around 79% of adults in their 20s are showing signs of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, according to new research published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes on August 20.

CKM syndrome refers to the interconnected health risks among obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease.

The findings suggest that risk factors for these conditions may emerge much earlier in life than previously recognized.

Researchers noted that identifying CKM risk among younger adults may provide an opportunity for healthcare professionals to encourage lifestyle changes that could help prevent more serious health issues later in life.

More young adults are showing signs of CKM

The study included 1,283 individuals with an average age of around 23 who were participating in the long-term family study, Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study.

The researchers determined each participant’s CKM stage and Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health score. Ultrasound was also used to check for signs of artery damage. 

In the study, 20.7% of participants were categorized as stage 0, and none had stage 4 CKM. The other stages were distributed as follows:

• 40.2% had stage 1
• 36.2% had stage 2
• 2.8% had stage 3

The LE8 score measures heart and blood health. It is a scale from 0 to 100 that assesses eight key health behaviors and factors. A higher score is generally considered better. 

In the study, the average LE8 score was 69.2. When broken down by CKM stage, participants showed average scores of: 

• 77.6 for stage 0
• 70 for stage 1
• 63.8 for stage 2
• 64.4 for stage 3

The ultrasounds showed that higher CKM stages were associated with increased arterial thickness. Thicker arterial walls can be a sign of increased cardiovascular disease risk.

“These findings are concerning because they suggest that cardiometabolic-kidney health problems may begin much earlier in life than we traditionally recognize,” Kevin Shah, MD, board certified cardiologist and Program Director of Heart Failure Outreach at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, said. Shah wasn’t involved in the study. 

“[The study] highlights the importance of identifying risk factors early, before they progress to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease,” he added. 

Why does CKM presence matter for young adults?

The study’s findings are important for young adults because changes in the arteries can begin decades before symptoms appear. Detecting these changes in your 20s may help identify cardiovascular health risks earlier in life.

“The researchers’ findings include evidence of rapid development of carotid artery disease in people in their 20s, which is extremely alarming. This is traditionally primarily a problem for people in advanced stages of life,” Jonathan Jennings, MD, board certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Healthline.  

He added that these risk factors may contribute to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe kidney disease earlier in life.

“The important point is that CKM health reflects the close relationship between the heart, kidneys, and metabolism. Someone may not have a diagnosed disease yet, but early problems such as excess visceral fat, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or elevated blood sugar can signal an increased long-term risk,” added Shah. 

Traditional cardiovascular risk calculators are not validated for people under 30, which can make it more difficult to identify long-term risk in younger adults who may otherwise feel healthy.

Life’s Essential 8 may help reduce CKM risk

LE8 was developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to help improve and maintain cardiovascular health. In the study, higher LE8 scores were associated with earlier CKM stages and better cardiovascular health.

LE8 includes two major areas: health behaviors and health factors. 

• eat more healthfully
• be more active 
• quit tobacco use
• get adequate sleep
• maintain a healthy weight
• control your cholesterol
• manage your blood sugar
• manage your blood pressure

Shah told Healthline that regular checkups are also important because identifying high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, or elevated blood sugar early provides an opportunity to intervene before more serious diseases develop.

“I’m optimistic about the CKM framework because it recognizes that obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease are not isolated problems; they are closely connected,” he said. 

“The earlier we identify these risks, the sooner we can intervene with lifestyle changes and, when appropriate, effective medical therapies. Our goal should be to prevent cardiovascular events, kidney failure, and heart failure rather than waiting until they occur.”