Survey Reveals 90% of U.S. Adults Unaware of Common Health Condition Affecting Nearly 90% of Population

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. The survey conducted by The Harris Poll in August 2025 among 4,007 U.S. adults revealed that despite the condition's prevalence, public awareness remains critically low.

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. Research published in JAMA confirms the widespread prevalence of these interconnected health risks.

"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," said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer for prevention.

The survey found that 79% of U.S. adults agreed that it is important 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, while 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 said. "These results reveal the need to emphasize those connections and help patients understand the importance of collaborative care." The American Heart Association is providing educational resources through its CKM Health Initiative website to help people understand how heart, kidney and metabolic health are connected.

For most people, CKM syndrome is reversible with changes to their eating pattern, physical activity and appropriate treatment, according to the Association's Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Presidential Advisory. The organization will issue the first ever guidelines on CKM syndrome in early 2026, marking a significant advancement in addressing this interconnected health challenge.

The American Heart 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," said Sanchez. "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."