Survey Reveals Widespread Unawareness of CKM Syndrome Affecting Nearly 90% of U.S. Adults

About 9 in 10 U.S. adults have not heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a newly defined health condition affecting nearly 90% of adults that includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association. However, many are interested in learning more about this interconnected health condition that significantly increases cardiovascular risks. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one risk factor for CKM syndrome, including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose, excess weight and reduced kidney function. The interplay of these risk factors increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one of them alone.

Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer for prevention, emphasized the importance of understanding these connections. We want people to know that it's really common to have heart, kidney and metabolic risk factors at the same time. 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, Sanchez said. CKM health includes the heart, kidneys and metabolic system responsible for creating, using and storing energy, which affects weight and blood glucose level. These systems are connected and function together, creating a cycle that puts health at serious risk when one system functions poorly.

The survey revealed several key findings about public awareness and understanding of CKM health. Only 12% of U.S. adults had never heard of CKM health or CKM syndrome, while 79% agreed that it is important that they understand more about CKM health and 72% said they are interested in learning more about it. People are most interested in learning about how CKM syndrome is treated (72%) and diagnosed (71%). However, 68% of U.S. adults incorrectly believe it's best to manage individual conditions one at a time or weren't sure of the best way to manage them, and 42% believed that a healthy heart would not likely be damaged by other organ systems or weren't sure.

The heart, kidney and metabolic systems are connected and, as such, should be treated in a coordinated way, Sanchez explained. These results reveal the need to emphasize those connections and help patients understand the importance of collaborative care. The American Heart Association's CKM Health Initiative is providing educational resources through their website to help people understand how heart, kidney and metabolic health are connected and take action early to prevent cardiovascular events. The Association is also working with healthcare teams across the country to improve collaboration among health care professionals who care for patients living with multiple health conditions.

CKM health is about your overall health, Sanchez emphasized. 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. The Association will issue the first ever guidelines on CKM syndrome in early 2026, providing healthcare professionals with standardized approaches for managing this interconnected condition. The research conducted by The Harris Poll surveyed approximately 4,000 U.S. adults in August 2025, revealing both the significant awareness gap and the public's interest in learning more about this prevalent health condition that affects the majority of American adults.