SCIENTISTS have identified a new medical condition that could be affecting millions of people.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome has been defined for the first time.
The condition is linked to having a combination of heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to the American Heart Association.
The body issued an advisory to doctors to help identify the CKM.
Dr Chiadi Ndumele, of Johns Hopkins University, said: “The advisory addresses the connections among these conditions with a particular focus on identifying people at early stages of CKM syndrome.
“Screening for kidney and metabolic disease will help us start protective therapies earlier to most effectively prevent heart disease and best manage existing heart disease.
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“There is a need for fundamental changes in how we educate health care professionals and the public, how we organise care and how we reimburse care related to CKM syndrome.”
Heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity have long been linked by research and how doctors approach treatment.
Around 7.6million Brits live with heart disease, while more than 5million have diabetes and a quarter are obese.
The new advisory from AHA is linking a fourth condition to the group — kidney disease, which affects more than 7million Brits.
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People with a combination of the four have CKM, although having just one puts you at risk of the condition, experts said.
The condition has four stages.
The first is when you have excess body fat, an unhealthy distribution of body fat, including around your belly, or prediabetes.
The second is people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or kidney disease.
Stage three is when you have early heart disease without symptoms or are at a high risk of heart disease.
And the fourth is having symptomatic heart disease in people with excess body fat, high blood pressure, cholesterol or sugars, or kidney disease.
Patients should be tested for heart disease as young as 30 and have their 10- and 30-year heart disease risk calculated, researchers said.
Dr Ndumele said: “We now have several therapies that prevent both worsening kidney disease and heart disease.
“The advisory provides guidance for health care professionals about how and when to use those therapies, and for the medical community and general public about the best ways to prevent and manage CKM syndrome.”
The 4 signs you are at risk of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome
Signs you’re at risk of CKM syndrome include:
- A high BMI or bodyweight
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- High blood sugar levels
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