Inflammation is already elevated at the earliest stage of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome
A new analysis of U.S. national health data finds that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a blood marker of inflammation, rises across the stages of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, with the largest increase at the earliest stage.
New research reveals that inflammation is already elevated during the very initial stage of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, even before individuals develop diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease. This groundbreaking study, conducted by a team from the University of Eastern Finland and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, analyzed data from 4,315 U.S. adults in the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a blood marker for inflammation, nearly doubled from stage 0 to stage 1 of CKM syndrome and remained above the 2 mg/L threshold typically used to signal increased cardiovascular risk at later stages. The findings suggest that inflammation is present at the earliest stage of the syndrome, providing a critical window for early prevention.
Lead author Douglas R. Corsi emphasizes that hs-CRP serves as an accessible warning sign of underlying inflammation, rather than a treatment target itself. The study highlights the potential for early intervention through lifestyle changes or direct inflammation treatment, using a simple blood test like hs-CRP to monitor risk.
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