Assessing psychosocial adversities at Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome stages in a large population survey
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome (CKMS) is defined as a cluster of disease conditions that are highly prevalent in the U.S. population. This study aims to assess psychosocial adversities at different CKMS stages in a large survey of U.S. adults, measured by lack of emotional support, low life satisfaction, and loneliness. Methods This cross-sectional study used data on 159,511 adults from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Proxy CKMS stages (0, 1, 2/3, and 4) were determined using self-reported health conditions. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were estimated to obtain the predictive margins of respective psychosocial attributes across proxy CKMS stages. Results Compared to adults at lower CKMS stages (Stages 0 and 1), adults at advanced CKMS stages (Stages 2/3 and 4) generally reported having higher psychosocial toll. At CKMS stage 4, the predicted probabilities of lack of emotional support, low life satisfaction, and loneliness were 6.96, 3.24, and 10.10 percentage points (pp) higher, respectively, than at stage 0. Compared to stage 1, the corresponding differences were 5.92, 2.89, and 9.65 pp. At CKMS stage 2/3, the corresponding differences were 4.36, 1.66, and 5.69 pp compared to stage 0 and 3.33, 1.32, and 5.25 pp compared to stage 1. The high burden at advanced CKMS stages was generally evident across sex, and different socioeconomic status conditions manifested by income and education. Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that adults with advanced CKMS stages were more likely to experience a psychosocial toll. Further research is warranted to facilitate strategies for improving psychosocial wellbeing of CKMS patients. What is Known Loneliness and social isolation have been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Prior research has examined loneliness and CKM stage together in relation to depression and anxiety, but evidence across other psychosocial outcomes remains limited. What the Study Adds Adults at advanced proxy CKMS stages had higher adjusted predicted probabilities of lacking emotional support, having low life satisfaction, and feeling lonely. These patterns were observed across sex, income, and education groups.
Source: medRxiv
Institution: Augusta University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214180835