Talk about an unwanted triple-threat.

A new study found that nearly 80% of young adults are diagnosed with a newly named condition that consists of three distinct medical issues.

Not only does the triple-threat complex disorder affect most of the major organs, but 1 in 3 Americans have at least three of the risk factors as well.

Cardiovascular risk and kidney disease are both often associated with older adults, with current guidelines for preventing cardiovascular risks developed for those well over the age of 30.

However, a study from the American Heart Association (AHA) recently discovered a condition that combines cardiovascular risk, kidney failure and two metabolic conditions affecting 8 in 10 adults around the age of 23.

The newly minted disorder, called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, consists of heart and blood vessel disease, kidney disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Those with more advanced stages of CKM syndrome had signs of injury or damage to their arteries, emphasizing the need for earlier cardiovascular prevention efforts.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, analyzed health data from 1,283 participants in the Future of Families–Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults (FF-CHAYA) cohort.

CKM syndrome is categorized by four stages that reflect risk factors, ranging from:

• Stage 0: no risk factors.
• Stage 1: patient has extra body fat.
• Stage 2: type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, high blood pressure or kidney disease is present.
• Stage 3: early cardiovascular disease or a high risk, but no symptoms.
• Stage 4: existing cardiovascular conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart failure or stroke.

Nearly 80% of participants from the cohort had criteria for stage 1, 2 or 3 of CKM syndrome, meaning they had excess body fat, metabolic risk factors and/or evidence of cardiovascular disease.

Around 21% of participants had no identifiable risk factors, and none were in stage 4.

Extra or abnormal body fat releases substances that cause inflammation and damages tissues in the heart, kidneys and arteries, makes insulin less effective and encourages kidney damage.

The researchers also assessed participants’ cardiovascular health not only by determining their CKM syndrome stage, but also by their Life’s Essential 8 cardiovascular health score, key measurements from the AHA to improve and maintain heart and blood health.

Life’s Essential 8 comprises eight health behaviors and factors, including healthy eating, sleep, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as physical activity and avoiding tobacco.

Young adults with more advanced CKM syndrome stages also had poorer Life’s Essential 8 scores, highlighting the importance of those metrics for better health.

“The study shows that CKM syndrome staging and Life’s Essential 8 are complementary for identifying adults younger than age 30 who may be on the fast track for arterial injury, plaque build-up and, ultimately, at higher risk for future cardiovascular events,” study author Donald Lloyd-Jones said in a press release.

The AHA’s current guidelines for cardiovascular health were developed for those between the ages of 30 and 79 without known cardiovascular disease.

Meanwhile, Life’s Essential 8 is designed for “measuring, monitoring and improving cardiovascular health at any age, but especially in adolescents and young adults,” according to Lloyd-Jones.

Paying attention to and implementing healthy lifestyle choices that affect sleep, diet, movement and more can help people understand how lifestyle choices influence heart, kidney and metabolic health over time, according to researchers.