The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology today published the first clinical guideline for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, identifying excess weight, particularly abdominal fat, as a key driver of the syndrome. The guideline aims to increase awareness of how heart disease, kidney disease, and metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity are interconnected, and it calls for earlier, prevention-focused conversations between healthcare professionals and patients about weight management.
Nearly 9 in 10 adults in the U.S. have at least one condition within CKM syndrome, including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose, reduced kidney function, or excess weight. As obesity rates continue to rise, the guideline underscores supporting a healthy weight to prevent future health problems. “In terms of CKM health, weight is not just about a number on a scale — people with the same body weight can have very different health profiles,” said Chiadi E. Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the writing committee. “Rather, what’s most important is how fat tissue affects your metabolic health. This includes how your body manages blood sugar levels and how fat is used and stored.”
The guideline replaces the 2013 guideline for managing overweight and obesity and builds on the American Heart Association’s 2023 definition of CKM syndrome. It emphasizes that prevention is as important as treatment. “The multiple consequences of obesity include diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. The guideline provides healthcare professionals with approaches for identifying and managing these conditions,” Ndumele said.
Excess weight increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by at least 21% for men and 32% for women, and each 5-unit increase in body mass index is associated with a 41% higher risk of heart failure. The guideline includes proven strategies such as SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 based therapies, and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, which benefit multiple body systems.
A key aspect of the guideline is improving coordination of care. It recommends using navigators or care coordinators to help coordinate between primary care and specialty clinicians, ensuring patients are treated as a whole person. “Research has shown that interdisciplinary teams make a dramatic impact on how people feel about their care and on how successful treatment is,” Ndumele said. The guideline also emphasizes identifying social barriers to healthy lifestyle and quality healthcare.
For leaders in business and technology, this guideline signals a shift toward integrated care models that could reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes for a large portion of the workforce. The emphasis on early intervention and coordinated care may also drive demand for digital health tools and data analytics to support CKM syndrome management. The American Heart Association’s CKM Health Initiative provides a path forward for patients, communities, and healthcare professionals to improve diagnosis and treatment. The full guideline is available in Circulation.
