EXPLORING INTERCONNECTED CONDITIONS
Cardiometabolic conditions are not only some of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the U.S., but they are also deeply connected. Detecting and managing one cardiometabolic disease, let alone several, can be challenging.
At Labcorp, we can help you and your patients evaluate cardiometabolic risks early with educational tools and appropriate diagnostic testing.
Four major cardiometabolic conditions—cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)–are connected in several ways, starting with shared risk factors:
Age
Family history
Health habits, including smoking, excessive alcohol use, unhealthy diets, obesity and inactive lifestyle¹
Metabolic factors related to both genes and lifestyle also contribute to cardiometabolic risk, including:2
High blood glucose
Low levels of HDL cholesterol
High levels of triglycerides
Large waist circumference
High blood pressure
CVD, Diabetes, CKD, and NAFLD/NASH tend to cluster together: The presence of one cardiometabolic disease increases the risk of having another.3
Consider how these four conditions are connected and which diagnostic tests from Labcorp may be appropriate for patients with each condition. For example, in addition to foundational tests, Labcorp offers cardiogenetic testing, as well as the option to measure for the presence of insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, biomarkers and lipoprotein particles to guide you in prioritizing interventions and individualizing treatment.
At Labcorp, we understand the complexity of screening, diagnosing, and managing patients with comorbid conditions. That’s why we provide you with a simplified way to clearly navigate the maze of testing options and increase guideline-recommended screening.
We can help deliver clarity as you identify and care for patients at risk for developing cardiometabolic conditions.
Labcorp offers a full range of testing options for CVD, diabetes, CKD, and NAFLD/NASH to enable an integrated guideline driven approach to chronic condition evaluation and management.
For both high-risk patients without a diagnosed condition and patients who already have a diagnosed cardiometabolic disease, timely interventions are key to improving health outcomes.
Lifestyle changes or medication can slow or prevent a single disease from progressing or related conditions from developing. But of comorbidities starts, the risks of increased mortality, decreased quality of life, and increased use of healthcare services rise.4
The first step in gaining more clarity is to identify and evaluate cardiometabolic risks. The latest guidelines from leading medical organizations—including the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American Heart Association, and American Diabetes Association—have evolved to recommend screening for comorbid cardiometabolic conditions.5-7
However, many patients with potential cardiometabolic multi-morbidities do not receive recommended screenings. For example, patients with diabetes and hypertension are at risk for CKD, yet only 13% receive guideline-recommended testing in routine care.8
Cardiometabolic conditions require a laboratory-based diagnosis. Tests such as lipid panels and glycemic assays remain foundational to assess a patient’s risk of developing CVD or diabetes.
Evolving guidelines and advanced biomarkers have made it necessary for primary care providers to have deep expertise across a wide range of specialties to determine the appropriate diagnostic test. With the number of patients with multi-comorbid conditions growing, having a simplified way to efficiently identify those most at-risk for developing cardiometabolic conditions is key.
Download our guide to learn more about identifying and monitoring for significant cardiometabolic conditions and the broad range of tests Labcorp offers to screen for them.
YOUR SOURCE FOR CARDIOMETABOLIC THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Read our articles and publications or join us for a webinar replay or live event to learn more about life-changing approaches to patient care.
Our easy-to-use, web-based analytic tools complement our testing offerings to help you focus on providing the best possible care for your patients.
Contact your Labcorp representative to learn more about we can help support diagnostic testing for high-risk patients with cardiometabolic conditions in your practice.
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 322000 | Metabolic Panel (14), Comprehensive |
| 322758 | Metabolic Panel (8), Basic |
| 335884 | Metabolic Syndrome Profile |
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 140301 | Kidney Profile |
| 140302 | Kidney Profile Plus Metabolic Panel (8), Basic |
| 140303 | Kidney Profile Plus Metabolic Panel (14), Comprehensive |
| 245292 | Cardiorenal-Glycemic Status |
820712 - Lipoprotein associated Phospholipase A2 is also available
Cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease), diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease are some of the most common chronic conditions in the US. They’re also all connected – and can impact your health if not detected and treated early.
Discover more about these connections and see how effective dialogue with a healthcare provider and simple health screenings from a trusted partner like Labcorp can give you the answers you need to take control of your health.
Cardiometabolic diseases are a group of common and often preventable chronic diseases that affect your cardiovascular system (heart and circulation or blood vessels) and your metabolic health.
Let’s focus on four main connected cardiometabolic conditions:
Many people may not be aware that they have a cardiometabolic condition because they don’t have any symptoms. Identifying these conditions early on, even before symptoms develop, is key to protecting your health.
You have the power to change the course of your health. For example, diabetes can be reversed in some patients, and kidney disease can be slowed to a point where progression to kidney failure can be prevented for some patients.7,8
Managing these disorders often starts with lifestyle changes, including weight loss, exercise, healthy eating and quitting smoking. Sometimes, prescription medicines are also necessary to get cardiometabolic diseases under control.
Cardiometabolic diseases affect parts of the body that rely on each other to keep you healthy. When one organ is damaged or under stress, other body functions also can break down, leading to additional chronic diseases.
For example, if you have diabetes, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart over time, leading to heart disease. 11 Or if you already have heart disease, your heart may not be pumping efficiently, leading to congestion of blood in the kidneys and eventual kidney damage. 12
Cardiometabolic diseases share common risk factors:
To improve your health, it’s important to get your risk factors under control before they lead to worsening health or further complications.
Being diagnosed with one cardiometabolic disease increases your risk of developing another one – and raises the likelihood of poor health outcomes.13
By taking proactive steps, you can help to prevent chronic diseases from getting out of control. The earlier you know about your risk factors or the presence of a disease, the sooner you can get the care you need to reverse, stop or slow down your conditions.
An easy way to understand your true risk is through a simple health screening. With a blood or urine test, doctors can accurately screen for undiagnosed conditions to detect problems even before symptoms develop. For example, an HbA1C test can assess your blood sugar level and help identify diabetes. Two tests that measure how well your kidneys are functioning (eGFR and uACR) can detect kidney disease in its earliest stages.
Without these tests, it’s possible to miss identifying some diseases, especially if you are not showing any symptoms.
How can you get ahead of your cardiometabolic risk? Start with a conversation with your doctor. Together you can make informed decisions about adjusting your lifestyle risk factors.
Ask your doctor whether screening for chronic disease or risk factors should be part of your routine visit. Your whole healthcare team is there to guide you down the path toward better health. All you have to do is take the first step.
The path to better health starts with you. As a trusted healthcare partner, Labcorp is here to provide testing insights and education to help guide clinical decisions. We’ll help unravel the connections between chronic diseases so you and your doctor can focus on your care.
Our tests for diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and liver disease integrate the latest screening guidelines to help your doctor identify your risk or make an accurate diagnosis.
You can choose to have your doctor use Labcorp to process your lab tests. All you have to do is make your preference known at your appointment.
Get tested right at a doctor’s office or nearby patient service center.
Get lab results, track your health history, manage appointments and pay your Labcorp bills—all through the Labcorp Patient Portal.
With Labcorp testing results, you can get the answers you need to change your health habits, get the right treatments and improve your health.
