Approach to the cardiometabolic continuum. Narrative description

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) is a major outcome of metabolic conditions.
• The cardiovascular continuum model explains ACVD progression from risk factors to death.
• Increasing rates of obesity, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and related conditions pose significant public health challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing public health impact of metabolic diseases on ACVD.
• To introduce the concept of a cardiometabolic continuum for early intervention.
• To emphasize the need for preventive strategies against ACVD.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on the cardiovascular continuum.
• Analysis of epidemiological data on metabolic diseases and ACVD.
• Longitudinal study data analysis linking childhood obesity to adult cardiometabolic risk.

Main Results:

• Metabolic diseases including obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes are major contributors to ACVD, hypertension, and mortality.
• Childhood obesity is strongly associated with persistent adult obesity and future cardiometabolic conditions.
• Conditions like physical inactivity, sarcopenia, and NAFLD exacerbate cardiometabolic risk.

Conclusions:

• The cardiometabolic continuum offers a framework for early, broad, and preventive interventions.
• Addressing childhood obesity is crucial to mitigate future ACVD and related conditions.
• Integrated strategies are needed to combat the rising burden of cardiometabolic diseases and ACVD.