The American Heart Association's Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative™ is expanding to transform care in 15 U.S. regions, targeting the interconnected conditions of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. This expansion aims to enroll 150 healthcare sites and impact over a quarter-million patients by enhancing awareness, screening, and treatment for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The initiative addresses what has been declared a public health emergency due to rising CKM syndrome rates, with only 10% of U.S. adults currently in excellent CKM health.
Selected regions include Atlanta, Baton Rouge, San Diego, and newly added areas like Bronx and Brooklyn, Miami, and Las Vegas. These locations were chosen based on disease prevalence and community needs. The expansion is supported by leading healthcare sponsors and represents a significant effort to combat a growing health crisis affecting millions of Americans. For more information on CKM health, individuals can visit https://heart.org/myCKMhealth.
Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, chair of the initiative's advisory group, emphasizes the opportunity to improve CKM health through collaborative care models and evidence-based therapies. The initiative focuses on connecting patients with community resources to address health-related social needs, recognizing that medical treatment alone may not be sufficient for optimal outcomes. This comprehensive approach represents a shift toward integrated care that acknowledges how these conditions influence each other.
The initiative provides healthcare organizations with practical tools for implementation, including the CKM Health Implementation Guide available for free. This guide helps medical providers establish effective screening and treatment protocols for patients with multiple interconnected conditions. By targeting regions with high disease prevalence, the initiative aims to create models of care that can be replicated nationally. The expansion comes at a critical time as rates of obesity, diabetes, and related cardiovascular and kidney conditions continue to rise across the United States.
Healthcare organizations implementing the initiative will work to identify patients at risk for CKM syndrome and provide coordinated care that addresses all related conditions simultaneously. This approach contrasts with traditional medical care that often treats these conditions in isolation. The initiative's regional focus allows for tailored interventions that consider local resources, demographics, and specific community health challenges. By enrolling 150 healthcare sites, the program seeks to create a network of care that can demonstrate measurable improvements in patient outcomes.
