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People with a common metabolic health condition have as much as a 30% higher risk of cancer, a new study reports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In particular, the researchers noted that cancer risks rise along with the stages and severity of CKM syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThese findings suggest that CKM staging may help identify individuals at increased cancer risk, supporting a more holistic approach to risk stratification beyond cardiovascular outcomes,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The researchers acknowledged that their research was an observational study, so they weren\u2019t able to establish causality between CKM syndrome and cancer risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Nonetheless, they said their findings are significant since it\u2019s estimated that 90% of adults<\/a> in the United States have at least some components of CKM syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The researchers stated that cancer prevention should be part of the treatment protocol for people with CKM syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThese findings extend the clinical relevance of the CKM framework beyond cardiovascular and kidney outcomes, underscoring the need for integrated risk assessment and prevention in multimorbid individuals,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Experts not involved in the study said the medical community should take note of this latest research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe study does not provide a mechanism, but the existing science has shown that there is a large overlap in risk factors for [cardiovascular disease] and cancer,\u201d said Michael McConnell<\/a>, MD, a clinical professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis study adds to the growing body of literature linking cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction<\/a>, and chronic kidney disease with cancer risk,\u201d added Christopher Berg<\/a>, MD, a non-interventional cardiologist specializing in cardio-oncology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Berg, however, noted that the findings don\u2019t offer significant treatment and prevention strategies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis study may help identify at-risk patients but is less helpful in pointing toward a solution beyond a general recommendation to work toward better health to reduce the risk of future illness,\u201d Berg told Healthline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe chief health concerns of people with CKM should be to work to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, which will in turn reduce their risk of cancer. Broadly, if it is good for the heart, it will help reduce your risk of cancer as well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n In their study, researchers analyzed insurance claims and health checkup data collected between April 2014 and August 2023 from nearly 1.4 million people in Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They tracked the rate of cancer cases based on whether a study participant had CKM syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The researchers reported that during a median follow-up of more than 3 years, they were able to establish cancer risk for different stages of CKM syndrome:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The stages were based on how many CKM syndrome components a person had.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThese results suggest that, in the context of CKM syndrome, it is important to consider not only [cardiovascular disease] risk but also the elevated risk of cancer,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The researchers explained that the \u201cinterconnected nature of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases\u201d can involve \u201cshared pathophysiological mechanisms\u201d that include \u201csystemic inflammation<\/a>, insulin resistance<\/a>, oxidative stress<\/a>, and dysfunctional or excess adiposity<\/a> (the accumulation of fatty tissue in the body).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They said these mechanisms can \u201ccontribute to disease progression across organ systems.\u201d They noted that cancer and CKM syndrome share certain risk factors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFor example, aging, smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor dietary habits<\/a> contribute to both CKM progression and cancer risk, highlighting the presence of overlapping risk profiles,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tochi Okwuosa<\/a>, DO, the director of cardio-oncology services at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and an American Heart Association (AHA) volunteer, said the study accurately portrays how medical conditions can cascade on top of one another. Okwuosa wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cA common factor between the CKM syndrome and cancer is inflammation, which is likely a link between both disease processes,\u201d she told Healthline. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe know that obesity increases insulin resistance and diabetes, and both processes increase inflammation, which in turn increases cardiovascular risk factors<\/a> such as hypertension<\/a>, which then increases kidney disease. All of these factors eventually lead to heart disease<\/a> and stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n McConnell said it\u2019s \u201cimportant to note that the only significant association was for CKM stages 3 and 4.\u201d He also said the follow-up period of 3 years is \u201crelatively short.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think the stronger argument is the shared risk factors not that poor CKM health \u2018causes\u2019 cancer,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cThis emphasizes prevention is key to both, particularly as the cancer risk mostly associated with CKM stage 3 and 4, not earlier stages 1 and 2.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Nonetheless, he said the study\u2019s overall message is important.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cCKM is a more holistic approach to cardiometabolic and kidney health, so it\u2019s helpful to know earlier that these contribute to risk of both [cardiovascular disease] and cancer,\u201d McConnell said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFor those with more advanced CKM stages, it\u2019s important to manage cardio, metabolic, and kidney issues as we now have very effective therapies, and to be aware of the association with cancer risk, so appropriate cancer screenings [are done].\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The American Heart Association (AHA) first AHA officials issued recommendations for prevention, screening, and treatment in their advisory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They suggested that a multidisciplinary approach to the syndrome be utilized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A They found that, between 2011 and 2020:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Stage 1 was characterized by excess body fat and higher-than-normal blood sugar<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Stage 3 was characterized as a person having issues with heart and blood vessels but without noticeable symptoms, as well as the presence of very-high-risk CKD and a high-predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Stage 4 was characterized as a person having CKM risk factors and signs of cardiovascular disease (i.e., coronary heart disease<\/a>, angina, heart attack, heart failure<\/a>, and stroke). Stage 4a includes people without kidney failure<\/a>. Stage 4b includes people with kidney failure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The vast majority of the U.S. adult population has risk factors that put them at risk for CKM syndrome. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n They said the most common risk factors for CKM syndrome include unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as inadequate nutrition, lack of exercise<\/a>, and insufficient sleep.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A 2026 survey<\/a> concluded that millions of adults in the United States are unaware they have undiagnosed cardiovascular risk factors that begin outside the heart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Early detection is a key to effectively treating cancer, so regular cancer screenings are recommended.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Additionally, lifestyle habits can be adopted to lower the risk of cancer. These include:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Okwuosa recommended that people adopt the lifestyle habits detailed in the AHA\u2019s \u201cThe most important habits are those that reduce inflammation, which appears to be the primary source of the CKM syndrome,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Berg said a person doesn\u2019t need to adopt all these lifestyle habits at once. He said selecting one or two changes is a good way to start.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhile this laundry list of goals may seem unwieldy and overwhelming, actionable steps anyone can take immediately would be to focus on increasing physical activity<\/a> and reducing the amount of ultra-processed food they eat,\u201d said Berg.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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