Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 02, 2026
Survey Reveals Gaps in Use of CKM Syndrome Tools
TLDR
- Clinics adopting American Heart Association CKM staging and PREVENT equations can gain an edge in early risk detection and coordinated care.
- The American Heart Association survey of 97 clinical sites found 75 percent screened for CKM risks but only 22 percent used CKM staging and 28 percent used PREVENT equations.
- Adopting American Heart Association CKM tools can help clinicians identify high-risk patients earlier and provide more whole-person care for better outcomes.
- Nearly 90 percent of U.S. adults have at least one CKM syndrome component, yet fewer than one-third of surveyed clinics use advanced risk tools.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because CKM syndrome affects nearly 90% of U.S. adults, yet the tools designed to catch it early are underused. The PREVENT equations and CKM staging can identify high-risk patients years before heart disease or kidney failure develops, allowing for earlier, more coordinated care. With most clinics still relying on basic screenings, there is a clear opportunity to improve patient outcomes by adopting these newer, more comprehensive assessments. As the American Heart Association’s initiative expands, these baseline findings will guide efforts to standardize care and reduce the burden of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic disease across diverse communities.
Summary
A new survey of 97 U.S. clinical sites participating in the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative™ reveals that while most clinics screen for individual heart, kidney, and metabolic risks, far fewer are adopting newer, comprehensive assessment tools. The preliminary research, presented at the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, found that 75% of sites screened for CKM-related conditions and 73% systematically tested for risk factors, but only 28% used the PREVENT™ equations to estimate cardiovascular risk and just 22% used CKM syndrome staging. The initiative, launched in 2025, aims to improve early recognition and management of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a multi-system disorder linking obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome.
Lead author Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S., FAHA, director of the Penn Center for Cardiometabolic Health at the University of Pennsylvania, noted that the low adoption of newer tools is not entirely surprising given that CKM syndrome and the guideline-recommended tools are relatively new concepts. “This baseline is important because it shows we have opportunity to improve patient care as we help clinicians understand how to better incorporate these tools into their practices,” he said. The PREVENT equations, based on data from more than 6.5 million diverse U.S. adults, estimate 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk for people ages 30-79 without known heart disease. CKM syndrome staging categorizes patients into four stages, from excess fat to clinical heart disease, enabling early detection and preventive care.
The findings highlight opportunities to standardize comprehensive CKM screening and adopt a coordinated care model. The survey also found that only 22% of sites measured waist circumference as standard practice. Limitations include self-reported data and a selection bias, but ongoing assessments will provide deeper insights. The initiative, which includes about 150 clinical sites, aims to inform a blueprint for adopting evidence-based standards and improving outcomes for patients with CKM syndrome.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Survey Reveals Gaps in Use of CKM Syndrome Tools
