MetaboHealth and Metabolic Vulnerability Index as Risk Factors for Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Multimorbidity: A
Jiaxing Ke1, Yang Zhang2, Xinyi Shao3
1Department of Cardiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Metabolomics scores like MetaboHealth can predict cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) multimorbidity risk and disease progression in aging populations. MetaboHealth showed more consistent associations with CRM multimorbidity than the Metabolic Vulnerability Index (MVX).
Area of Science:
- Biomarkers and Omics
- Public Health and Epidemiology
- Gerontology and Aging Research
Background:
- Cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) multimorbidity presents a growing public health concern, particularly in aging demographics.
- Metabolomics-based composite scores offer a potential method to assess systemic metabolic burden beyond traditional risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association of two metabolomics-based scores, the Metabolic Vulnerability Index (MVX) and the MetaboHealth score, with prevalent and incident CRM multimorbidity.
- To evaluate the predictive performance of these scores for CRM disease progression and transitions between disease states.
Main Methods:
- Population-based cohort study utilizing UK Biobank data with metabolomics information.
- Cross-sectional analyses assessed baseline CRM disease status associations with MVX and MetaboHealth.
- Longitudinal analyses employed Cox and Fine-Grey competing risk models to evaluate incident CRM multimorbidity and disease progression pathways using multistate models.
Main Results:
- The MetaboHealth score, but not MVX, was associated with prevalent CRM multimorbidity.
- Both MVX and MetaboHealth scores were significantly associated with a higher risk of incident CRM multimorbidity and disease progression.
- MetaboHealth demonstrated stronger and more consistent associations, with greater incremental predictive performance for 10-year CRM risk compared to MVX.
Conclusions:
- Both MVX and MetaboHealth scores are associated with incident CRM multimorbidity and disease progression.
- The MetaboHealth score exhibited more robust and consistent associations, highlighting its potential utility in assessing CRM disease risk and progression.
