People with kidney disease, diabetes may develop heart disease 28 years earlier
According to a recent study, individuals who have type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or both may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) 8–28 years earlier than those who do not have these conditions. Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are parts of the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which has a major effect on the risk of CVD.
These findings could aid in the early diagnosis of CVD in patients and aid in disease prevention. Chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, or both may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) 8 to 28 years earlier than people without these conditions, according to a recent study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024.
To ascertain the relationship between age and risk factors linked to CKM syndrome, researchers employed simulated patient profiles. These findings could guide early detection and intervention strategies in CVD prevention, even though they haven’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet. Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are two of the four components of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which increase this risk.
According to current CVD prevention guidelines, if a person has a 7 5% chance of having a heart attack or stroke within the next ten years, their risk is elevated. CKM syndrome is defined by the American Heart Association as the relationship among metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Developing cardiovascular risk profiles
To represent men and women aged 30 to 79 with and without type 2 diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease, researchers created risk profiles. They estimated the age at which each profile would probably reach elevated CVD risk using the Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease EVENTs (PREVENT) calculator from the American Heart Association. Data from the 2011–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to create the risk profiles.
An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 44.5, which denotes stage 3 kidney disease, was used to categorize chronic kidney disease. A “yes” answer to the PREVENT calculator question, Any history of diabetes, indicated type 2 diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, almost half of all U.S One in three adults has at least three risk factors linked to CKM syndrome, and all adults suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in some capacity. Early identification of high-risk individuals can enhance primary prevention initiatives and reduce the likelihood of early death from CVD.
According to our research, a person’s age and other medical conditions have a substantial impact on their risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, people with diabetes or kidney disease have a significantly increased risk of heart disease, even in their 30s, which can now be determined using the PREVENT equations. According to Krishnan, the Pooled Cohort Equations, which began at age 40 and excluded kidney function, could not previously be used to evaluate this.
A better understanding of cardiovascular disease risk, which includes heart attacks, heart failures, and strokes, should be made possible by the study, she continued. Even in the absence of a formal diagnosis, people with borderline high blood pressure, glucose, or kidney function may be at risk for unidentified health issues.
For people with CKM (Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic) disorders like diabetes or kidney disease, these risks manifest earlier. For instance, elevated cardiovascular risk can manifest decades earlier in individuals with CKM, particularly when combined with other conditions, whereas it begins around age 68 for women and 63 for men without CKM.