Only 12% of U.S. adults surveyed said they had heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, even though nearly 90% have at least one related risk factor, according to a Harris Poll conducted for the American Heart Association. After the term was explained, majorities said it was important to learn more and wanted information on diagnosis and treatment.
The American Heart Association says a large majority of U.S. adults remain unfamiliar with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a recently defined condition that links cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity into a single clinical framework.
The Association reported that The Harris Poll conducted an online survey of 4,007 U.S. adults ages 18 and older from Aug. 6 to Aug. 22, 2025. In that survey, 12% of respondents said they had heard of “CKM health” or CKM syndrome.
The Heart Association said nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one risk factor linked to CKM syndrome, including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose, excess weight and reduced kidney function. It said the overlap of these risk factors increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one factor alone.
After respondents were given an explanation of CKM health, 79% agreed it was important to understand more, and 72% said they were interested in learning more. The Association said respondents were most interested in how CKM syndrome is treated (72%) and diagnosed (71%).
The survey also suggested widespread misconceptions about how related conditions should be addressed. The Heart Association reported that 68% of respondents incorrectly believed it is best to manage individual conditions one at a time or were unsure of the best approach, and 42% believed a healthy heart would not likely be damaged by other organ systems or were uncertain.
“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,” Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention, said in the release.
The Association described CKM health as reflecting how the heart, kidneys and metabolic system work together, and said that when one system functions poorly it can worsen the others over time. It also said that for many people, CKM syndrome can be reversible with changes in eating habits, physical activity and appropriate medical treatment.
To expand public and clinical understanding, the Heart Association said its CKM Health Initiative is providing educational tools and an online resource hub, and that it is working with healthcare teams nationwide to improve collaboration among professionals who care for patients with multiple chronic conditions. The Association said it plans to release its first clinical guidelines focused on CKM syndrome in early 2026.
“The heart, kidney and metabolic systems are connected and, as such, should be treated in a coordinated way,” Sanchez said.
