Advanced Heart, Kidney and Metabolic Syndrome Linked to 30% Higher Cancer Risk, Study Finds
New research published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes reveals that later stages of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome are associated with a 25-30% increased risk of cancer, highlighting the need for integrated screening.
People with advanced cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome may face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer, according to a study published today in the American Heart Association's peer-reviewed journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes. The research, which analyzed data from nearly 1.4 million adults in Japan, found that those in the later stages of CKM syndrome had a 25-30% greater risk of cancer compared to individuals with no risk factors.
CKM syndrome encompasses interconnected conditions including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, obesity and diabetes. The American Heart Association notes that nearly 9 out of 10 adults in the U.S. have at least one component of the syndrome, such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight or reduced kidney function.
The study, led by Dr. Hidehiro Kaneko of the University of Tokyo, used national insurance claims data to classify participants into CKM syndrome stages from 0 (no risk factors) to 4 (established cardiovascular disease). Over an average follow-up of 3.5 years, researchers tracked new cancer diagnoses. Results showed that cancer risk increased only modestly in early stages (3% for stage 1, 2% for stage 2) but jumped sharply in later stages: 25% higher risk for stage 3 and 30% higher for stage 4.
“The study findings suggest that it is important to consider not only cardiovascular disease risk, but also cancer risk in people with CKM syndrome,” said Kaneko. He added that dysfunction in the cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic systems share risk factors with cancer, and the accumulation of these factors may contribute to cancer development.
Dr. Tochukwu Okwuosa, director of cardio-oncology services at Rush University Medical Center, noted the bidirectional relationship. “We already know that cancer and its therapies can lead to cardiotoxicities and cardiovascular disease. This study highlights the concept of reverse cardio-oncology, where cardiovascular disease and its risk factors also increase cancer risk,” she said. Okwuosa suggested that the CKM syndrome staging framework could help identify high-risk individuals for potential cancer screenings.
The study's findings, published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, are based on a Japanese population, which may limit generalizability. However, the authors noted that other studies have consistently linked metabolic and kidney dysfunction to increased cancer risk, supporting broader applicability.
This research underscores the importance of a holistic approach to health, as CKM syndrome affects nearly every organ system. With heart disease and cancer remaining leading causes of death in the U.S., lifestyle interventions that address shared risk factors could have far-reaching benefits.