Despite effective medications existing, only about half of US adults with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome are being treated for hypertension and hyperlipidemia — and among those who are treated, fewer than half achieve blood pressure or blood sugar control. A new NHANES analysis spanning 2015–2023 reveals the biggest gaps hit younger adults, women, and Hispanic patients hardest. Experts say the real problem isn't a lack of good drugs — it's a failure to intensify treatment to hit targets.
The treatment gap in CKM syndrome is bigger than we thought — and it's getting worse for some
A new analysis of nearly 6,400 US adults with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome — a condition linking heart disease, kidney dysfunction, and metabolic disorders — reveals alarming gaps in both treatment initiation and intensification. Published in JACC, the study found that over a 9-year period (2015–2023), only about half of patients received treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, while diabetes treatment fared better at 83%. Critically, even among those being treated, fewer than half achieved blood pressure or glycemic control.
Experts say the bottleneck has shifted: it's no longer just about starting therapy — it's about intensifying it. Physicians often initiate treatment but fail to uptitrate when patients don't reach their targets, a phenomenon called therapeutic inertia. Systemic solutions — including EHR-based tools, remote BP monitoring, AI-assisted coaching, and multidisciplinary CKM clinics — are being proposed to close the gap.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: Nearly 90% of American adults show signs of CKM syndrome, making this a massive public health challenge. Undertreating young adults today — when early intervention has the greatest long-term payoff — risks a preventable wave of heart disease tomorrow. The problem isn't a lack of effective drugs; it's failing to deliver them consistently and aggressively enough.
