A new study reveals that people with both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are at a much higher risk of developing heart problems, and they face this risk far earlier than those without these conditions.
For men dealing with both diabetes and kidney disease, heart issues appear 28 years earlier on average than for those without either condition. Women with both conditions face heart problems 26 years earlier.
This research, presented at the American Heart Association meeting, emphasizes the combined impact of diabetes and kidney disease on heart health.
Vaishnavi Krishnan, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Northwestern University, explained that understanding how these risk factors interact can help health professionals recognize the early warning signs.
She pointed out that people with slightly elevated blood pressure, glucose levels, or mild kidney problems might be at risk for heart disease long before a formal diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease is made.
To conduct this study, the researchers analyzed data from federal health surveys taken between 2011 and 2020.
They created heart risk profiles for individuals with type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, or both, looking specifically at how these conditions affect heart health over time.
Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are part of a broader health category called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.
This syndrome, as defined by the American Heart Association, represents the health risks that arise from a mix of heart disease, kidney issues, diabetes, and obesity.
Together, these conditions amplify the risks of each other, forming a feedback loop that accelerates heart health problems.
The study found that people with kidney disease face a heightened risk of heart disease about eight years earlier than those with healthy kidneys. Similarly, those with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for heart issues about a decade sooner than people without diabetes.
However, when diabetes and kidney disease are both present, the risk is even more severe and starts alarmingly early: at around age 35 for men and 42 for women.
While these results underline the seriousness of CKM syndrome, the findings are based on data from a simulated population rather than real-world clinical patients.
Dr. Sadiya Khan, a researcher involved in the study and a professor at Northwestern School of Medicine, noted that this is an early step in understanding how risk models can help predict and address health problems before they develop.
Since these results were presented at a medical conference, they are considered preliminary until they undergo peer review and publication in a scientific journal.
Nonetheless, the study highlights the need for early intervention and monitoring, especially for individuals with even borderline health issues related to diabetes, kidney function, or blood pressure.
Early lifestyle changes and medical attention could make a significant difference in reducing long-term risks and improving quality of life for those at risk.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and these vegetables could protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about bone drug that could lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing eating more eggs linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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