The term “cardiometabolic disease” refers to a group of metabolic and cardiovascular conditions that dramatically raise a person’s risk for heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include hypertension, atherosclerotic disease (buildup of fatty deposits inside blood vessels), insulin resistance and obesity. While many of the conditions that fall into the cardiometabolic family of diseases qualify as preventable conditions, the vast majority of Americans live with one or more unmodifiable risk factors such as genetically-related factors, for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, another umbrella term for cardiometabolic health conditions. Charles V. Pollack, MD has researched multiple treatments for these conditions for many years. Nearly 50 percent of Americans have developed some type of cardiometabolic issue. Tufts University reports that fewer than 10 percent of Americans live with optimal cardiometabolic health.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of strong cardiometabolic health. Cardiometabolic diseases impact cardiovascular function and can cause heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They can also cause organ failure, among other complications.
As mentioned, Americans can take several steps to mitigate their likelihood of developing CKM syndrome or other cardiometabolic conditions. Smoking tobacco products represents a major risk factor for cardiometabolic complications, especially heart disease and impaired cardiovascular function. A number of chemicals in cigarettes cause blood vessels throughout the body to narrow, resulting in conditions such as coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. The CDC reports that individuals who quit smoking can notably reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption contributes to pancreatitis, liver disease, and cardiovascular disease risk.
Maintaining a nutritious, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly are two of the simplest and most effective ways of preventing cardiometabolic complications. Patients should consult with their doctors regarding a balanced meal plan. In addition, the CDC advises all Americans to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.
Lifestyle changes are not always enough to prevent cardiometabolic issues. Various treatment options exist for Americans living with cardiometabolic diseases, including emerging treatments, like short interfering RNA (siRNA) medications. Scientists and clinical researchers like Charles V. Pollack, MD, are deeply engaged in expanding siRNA research and harnessing the many benefits of these medications. For example, siRNA medication provides health benefits that last for several months, compared to traditional medications for cholesterol, diabetes, and various vascular conditions, which often necessitate daily pills or regular injections.
Medications that utilize siRNA work higher upstream in the biological pathway, resulting in a more powerful and reliable treatment compared to traditional drugs that impact proteins already active in the bloodstream. By co-opting the body’s natural cellular processes, siRNA halts the production of proteins associated with a specific disease.
Physicians like Charles V. Pollack, MD, are working toward the next generation of cardiometabolic care by developing new siRNA therapies that draw on advances in the fields of molecular biology, clinical pharmacology, and cardiometabolic medicine. However, the process is complicated. Clinicians must select the most impactful protein targets, develop specialized dosing schedules, and gauge effects for duration, safety, and reversibility, among other concerns. Furthermore, the emergence of siRNA has compelled medical leaders to completely rethink the design of clinical trials, such as a shift to long-term event reduction as opposed to short-term lab changes.
Of course, the reward is worth the challenge for health care professionals dedicated to supporting patients with cardiometabolic services that are more effective, proactive, and convenient. Clinicians and researchers developing the latest siRNA medications have laid the foundation for a better future, allowing for a more impactful approach to how doctors treat and prevent many of the world’s most common and deadliest diseases.
