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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Heart disease starts earlier than you think. A new study found that nearly 80% of young adults had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome by age 23 — and many already showed signs of silent arterial damage. Researchers say early screening and healthy lifestyle habits could be key to reversing the trend before permanent damage sets in.
Heart disease is quietly taking root in your 20s
A new study published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes found that only about 1 in 5 young adults had ideal cardiovascular health by age 23 — meaning the other 80% already had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Even more concerning, those with more risk factors showed measurable signs of early arterial injury, suggesting that silent atherosclerosis may be developing long before a diagnosis is ever made.
The study followed 1,283 participants (mean age 23) from the FF-CHAYA cohort and used the American Heart Association's CKM staging framework, which links obesity, metabolic dysfunction, kidney disease, and heart disease. Researchers also used carotid ultrasound to detect early arterial changes and found that higher CKM stages correlated with greater arterial thickening — a known precursor to plaque buildup and future heart attacks or strokes.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: These findings underscore the urgent need for early cardiovascular screening in young adults. Clinicians have a critical window to intervene before arterial damage becomes irreversible — and tools like the AHA's Life's Essential 8 framework can help guide prevention efforts starting in early adulthood.
