Optimizing Care for Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome: Leveraging Implementation Science in the Path Toward...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Nephrology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Health Equity
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality, posing a public health challenge.
• Despite available evidence-based therapies, unequal access to CKM syndrome treatments persists.
• Disparities in treatment access are evident across gender, race, and ethnicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overview the current landscape of pharmacoequity in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.
• To identify barriers impeding equitable access to CKM syndrome therapies.
• To propose strategies for improving pharmacoequity in CKM syndrome management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current research on CKM syndrome and pharmacoequity.
• Analysis of identified disparities in treatment access.
• Discussion of barriers including multimorbidity, polypharmacy, awareness, clinical inertia, cost, pharmacy access, socio-contextual factors, and fragmented care.
• Exploration of implementation science approaches for CKM equity.

Main Results:

• CKM syndrome is a major driver of cardiovascular disease burden.
• Significant disparities exist in the utilization of guideline-directed therapies for CKM syndrome based on gender, race, and ethnicity.
• Multiple individual and systemic barriers hinder equitable CKM management, particularly for minoritized populations.

Conclusions:

• Unequal access to CKM syndrome therapies necessitates urgent attention and policy reform.
• Multifaceted, multi-level strategies are required to address CKM pharmacoequity.
• Interdisciplinary care and implementation science-informed tools can help combat inequities in CKM syndrome management.