In this article, we will discuss a newly recognized type of heart disease – CKM syndrome, which occurs when there is an overlap between heart diseases, kidney diseases, and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Specialized Medical Disciplines
Due to our specialized medical field, it may seem that each doctor has their own organ. For example, if I have a heart issue, I will see a cardiologist. And if my kidneys are unhealthy, I will check with a nephrologist. Or if I have diabetes or any other hormone-related problem, I will see an endocrinologist.
The Interconnection Between Health Problems
But it is clear that these organs or health issues are very much related to each other. In particular, kidney problems and metabolic issues increase the risk of heart disease, which includes everything from heart attacks to blocked arteries.
CKM Syndrome
This is a concern for cardiologists like Sadia Khan from Northwestern University. That’s why Khan helped write a new set of guidelines from the American Heart Association in collaboration with kidney and endocrinology specialists. These guidelines, which were issued just a few months ago, define a new type of heart disease called metabolic kidney heart syndrome.
Causes of CKM Syndrome
The problem starts with obesity. Excess fat cells secrete chemicals that cause inflammation. This can damage blood vessels and harm the tissues of the heart and kidneys. Inflammation also reduces the sensitivity of cells to insulin, the hormone that transports sugar from the blood into those cells. More sugar in the blood and less in the cells is a hallmark of diabetes, of course.
Treatment and Prevention
This is where the importance of new treatments targeting these interrelated diseases comes in. These treatments include SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists, which are specific classes of medications shown to have heart benefits and have been demonstrated to be beneficial in people with kidney disease and diabetes, as well as obesity or being overweight.
New Medications
You may have heard of GLP1 medications – things like Ozempic and Wegovy, which have been used to treat diabetes and aid in weight loss and may also protect against heart disease and kidney disease. SGLT2 inhibitors work on the kidneys, helping them filter excess glucose from the blood, so they were originally developed as diabetes medications. But then some large clinical trials showed they also reduce heart disease rates.
Comprehensive Treatment
However, it should be noted that these medications should not be used alone but should be accompanied by lifestyle changes – diet, exercise, etc. – if a person has multiple risk factors. Thanks to these developments, the American Heart Association has also introduced a new risk calculator for use by doctors, integrating kidney disease and diabetes indicators with heart risks. It is a complex formula but provides doctors with a good picture of a person’s likelihood of developing CKM syndrome or some other forms of heart disease like heart failure.
Early Diagnosis
The crucial difference is that this tool allows doctors to start risk assessment at the age of thirty. Previous assessment tools were only applied to individuals aged 40 and older. Khan points out that if someone is going to develop heart disease, the first signs appear in the decade of their thirties to forties. And at this early stage, symptoms can be mitigated with appropriate treatments.
Early Diagnosis
As a person
In my thirties, this is good for me! Recognizing CKM syndrome could mean more people are diagnosed and treated earlier, keeping them healthy for a larger part of their lives.
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Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/a-new-type-of-heart-disease-is-on-the-rise/
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