CKM staging faces an early vascular test
Investigators examined Life’s Essential 8 scores and carotid ultrasonography measures across cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic stages in 1,283 young adults.
By
Kathryn Wighton
September 8, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: CKM staging faces an early vascular test
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Key Mechanisms Association of CKM stages with cardiovascular health scores and early carotid arterial injury. Target Population Young adults aged 23 years (mean age) from the FF-CHAYA study. Care Setting Cross-sectional study assessing cardiovascular health and arterial injury.
Key Highlights
CKM stages classified as stage 0 to stage 3 based on risk factors. Mean Life’s Essential 8 scores decreased with advanced CKM stages. Higher carotid intima-medial thickness associated with more advanced CKM stages. Sensitivity analysis showed no statistical differences in health-behavior components across CKM stages. Study cohort may not be representative due to oversampling from disadvantaged backgrounds. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use the adapted CKM staging framework to classify cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic risk. Management
Monitor cardiovascular health using Life’s Essential 8 metrics. Monitoring & Follow-up
Assess carotid arterial injury through ultrasonography. Risks
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease with advanced CKM stages. Patient & Prescribing Data
Participants from the FF-CHAYA study, predominantly young adults.
Focus on lifestyle modifications to improve Life’s Essential 8 scores.
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate CKM staging in routine assessments of young adults. Utilize carotid ultrasonography for early detection of arterial injury. Related Resources & Content
