Association Between Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health and Early Arterial Injury in Young Adults in the United States: The Future of Families–Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults Study
Authors' conclusion
Among young adults, a more advanced CKM stage was associated with worse cardiovascular health, including greater evidence of early arterial injury. These findings elucidate the need for earlier preventive efforts and population-level interventions to address upstream drivers of CKM health.
Study context
- Population
- Young adults in the FF-CHAYA study (Future of Families-Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults)mean [SD] age, 22.9 [0.7] years, 54.4% women
- Participants
- 1,283 adults
- Exposure
- CKM stages with Life’s Essential 8 scores and carotid ultrasonography measures
Methodological detailsmultivariable regression models adjusted for age, self-identified gender, and self-identified race/ethnicity
- Multivariable regression models adjusted for age, self-identified gender, and self-identified race/ethnicity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Distribution of CKM stages
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Difference (mm) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mean-maximum carotid intima-medial thickness — Stage 1 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · higher | 0.014 (0.005–0.020) | |
| Mean-maximum carotid intima-medial thickness — Stage 2 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · higher | 0.020 (0.017–0.035) | |
| Mean-maximum carotid intima-medial thickness — Stage 3 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · higher | 0.100 (0.085–0.128) | |
| −0.100.10.2Difference, mm (linear scale) |
| Outcome | β (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Life’s Essential 8 scores — Stage 1 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · significantly lower | −7.6 (−9.4 to −5.8) |
| Life’s Essential 8 scores — Stage 2 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · significantly lower | −13.9 (−15.7 to −12.0) |
| Life’s Essential 8 scores — Stage 3 CKM vs Stage 0 CKM · significantly lower | −13.2 (−17.4 to −9.0) |
Mean-mean and mean-maximum carotid intima-medial thickness and gray scale median
- Stages 1 to 3 had significantly higher mean-mean and mean-maximum carotid intima-medial thickness and lower gray scale median compared with Stage 0
Original publication
Association Between Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health and Early Arterial Injury in Young Adults in the United States: The Future of Families–Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults Study. Circ Popul Health Outcomes. Published 20 August 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it