Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Have Multiple Chronic Conditions Such as Diabetes, Heart Disease

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2 years ago

September 29, 2023

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Share on Pinterest The number of people dealing multiple chronic conditions is on the rise in the U.S.Hero Images Inc/Getty ImagesA study has found that adults in the U.S. are increasingly dealing with multiple chronic conditions.These cardiac, renal, and metabolic conditions include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.These conditions are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and are estimated to account for every 1 in 3 deaths.

A new study found that the number of Americans with multiple cardiac, renal, and metabolic conditions is rising.

Approximately one in four adults have a cardiac, renal, or metabolic conditions condition and nearly 1 in 10 have multiple cardiac, renal, or metabolic conditions, according to the report, which published in JAMA Cardiology on September 27.

The risk of also increased with ageone in three adults 65 and older had a cardiac, renal, or metabolic condition, while almost 1 in 4 had overlapping conditions.

These conditions are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and are estimated to account for every 1 in 3 deaths, according to study authors.

We have medications to treat the underlying mechanisms that contribute to co-existing cardiac, renal, and metabolic (CRM) conditions, however, they arent being prescribed or taken nearly as frequently as they should be.

The new report sheds light on how significantly the incidence of these conditions has grown over the past two decades along with the urgent need to address the situation.

The findings are doubly concerning as they demonstrate both an increase in the prevalence of cardiac, renal, and metabolic disease and concurrent high levels of undertreatment, Dr. Dmitriy Nevelev, Associate Director of Cardiology at Staten Island University Hospital, told Healthline. Nevelev wasnt involved in the study. Chronic conditions have become much more common since 1999

To determine the prevalence of CRM conditions in the U.S., the researchers evaluated health data from January 2015 through March 2020 sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

They compared those trends against NHANES health data collected between 1999 and 2002.

The analysis included 11,607 non-pregnant adults aged 20 and over.

Of the data pooled from 2015 to 2020, 26.3% had at least 1 CRM condition, 8% had at least two, and 1.5% had three CRM conditions.

The most common comorbid conditions were type 2 diabetes plus chronic kidney disease (3.2%), followed by cardiovascular disease plus type 2 diabetes (1.7%) and cardiovascular disease plus chronic kidney disease (1.6%).

The burden was greatest among non-hispanic Black individuals along with people who reported they were unemployed, of low socioeconomic status, or had no high school degree.

Disparities in access to healthcare services can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment of cardiac, renal, and metabolic conditions, leading to worse outcomes, said Dr. David Cutler, board certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Cutler was not involved in the study.

Of those with three CRM conditions, roughly one-third (30.5%) did not report statin use, only 4.8% used medication common for weight loss and diabetes called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1 agonists.) Additionally only 3% took medication commonly used to treat high blood sugar called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2).

Newer medications like GLP1 agonists for example, semaglutide and SGLT2 inhibitors which have been found to improve these conditions are very expensive and were found to be prescribed at a very low rate in this study, says Cutler.

The proportion of U.S. adults with multiple CRM conditions has grown significantly over the past few decades from 5.3% in 1999 to 8% in 2020.

The proportion of Americans with three CRM conditions also grew, from 0.7% in 1999 to 1.5% in 2020. How to combat the rising prevalence of multiple CRM conditions

Research shows that heart, kidney, and metabolic functions are intertwined and share the same risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, blood sugar that is too high or low, and cholesterol imbalance.

Diet and lack of physical activity can contribute to metabolic disorders and obesity, says Cutler.

Genetics, age, and access to healthcare play a role, too.

In addition, stress can affect health behaviors and contribute to the development of these conditions, he added.

The report says that issues with one body system may lead to dysfunction of others and the development of multiple morbidities.

Fortunately, we can use the common link between these conditions to personalize treatment and prevent their onset, says Nevelev.

There are drugs that target the underlying pathways involved in the development of comorbidities, such a SGLT2 inhibitors, and may help lower the prevalence of multiple conditions, however, they are being prescribed at a low rate.

Several factors are at play, including insurance coverage and the associated insurance authorizations burden, overall cost to the patient, prescriber comfort in using newer medications, fear of medication side effects, and in the case of GLP-1 antagonists availability, says Nevelev.

The rising prevalence of multiple conditions are expected to accelerate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We now have good data demonstrating pandemic-related decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary activity and weight gain, he said.

The findings highlight the need to improve the situation and promote public health efforts, such as promoting healthy lifestyles, improving access to healthcare, and raising awareness about risk factors and early detection.

We have the tools to lower rates of these diseases. We have to make better use of them, says Cutler. The bottom line:

A new study found that the number of adults in the U.S. with multiple cardiac, renal, and metabolic (CRM) conditions is rising. There are medications to treat the underlying mechanisms that contribute to these co-existing conditions. However, they arent being prescribed or taken as frequently as they should be. The research sheds light on the urgent need to address the situation, ideally through awareness, screening, and improved access to healthcare.

Sports

Little League, big dreams: Mets, Mariners players as Little Leaguers

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1 hour ago

August 15, 2025

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Little League, big dreams: Mets, Mariners players as Little Leaguers

Aug 15, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The 2025 Little League World Series is underway, with some of the best young players around the country competing in Williamsport — all with the hopes of eventually making it to the major leagues one day.

And a few of them will make it … as evidenced by all the Little League alumni in Major League Baseball today.

This year’s MLB Little League Classic between the the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets will feature a number of MLB players who have played little league baseball in one way or another, either with local teams in their home countries or with Little League specifically. In fact, Seattle manager Dan Wilson played in the 1981 Little League Baseball World Series with Barrington (Illinois) Little League.

As the Mariners and Mets face off at historic Bowman Field in Williamsport on Aug. 17 — which you can watch on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast at 7 p.m. ET — let’s take a look at “then” and “now” photos of notable players on each team that played little league.

More: Little League World Series: Results, schedules, more

Watch every game: LLBWS

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso played for Tampa Bay Little League in Tampa Bay, Florida.

J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners

Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford played for Lakewood Little League in Lakewood, California.

Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets

Mets reliever Edwin Diaz played for Miguel Luzunaris Little League in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

George Kirby, SP, Seattle Mariners

Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby played for Rye Little League in Rye, New York.

Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor played little league baseball in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Jeff McNeil, 2B, New York Mets

Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil played for Goleta Valley South Little League in Santa Barbara, California.

Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh played for Great Smokies Little League in Sylva, North Carolina.

Julio Rodriguez, CF, Seattle Mariners

Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez played little league baseball in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.

Kodai Senga, SP, New York Mets

Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga played little league baseball in Gamagōri, Japan.

Juan Soto, RF, New York Mets

Mets right fielder Juan Soto played for Banco Central Little League in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Bryan Woo, SP, Seattle Mariners

Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo played for Alameda Little League in Alameda, California.

All childhood photos courtesy of the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners.

Business

Trump’s son-in-law Kushner takes stake in UK lender OakNorth

Published

1 hour ago

August 15, 2025

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Trump's son-in-law Kushner takes stake in UK lender OakNorth

The private equity firm set up by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is to take a stake in OakNorth, the British-based lender which has set its sights on a rapid expansion in the US.

Sky News has learnt that Affinity Partners, which has amassed billions of dollars in assets under management, has signed a deal to acquire an 8% stake in OakNorth.

The deal is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks, industry sources said on Friday.

Mr Kushner established Affinity Partners in 2021 after leaving his role as an adviser to President Trump during his first term in the White House.

He is married to Ivanka, the president’s daughter.

Affinity manages money for a range of investors including the sovereign wealth funds of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Insiders said that Affinity Partners was buying the OakNorth stake from an unidentified existing investor in the digital bank.

The valuation at which the transaction was taking place was unclear, although OakNorth was valued at $2.8bn in its most recent funding round in 2019.

OakNorth, which was founded by Rishi Khosla, is targeting substantial loan growth in the US in the coming years.

Earlier this year, it agreed to buy Community Unity Bank (CUB), which is based in Birmingham, Michigan, in an all-share deal.

The transaction is awaiting regulatory approval.

OakNorth began lending in the US in 2023 and has since made roughly $1.3bn of loans.

The bank is chaired by the former City watchdog chair Lord Turner, and is among a group of digital-only British banks which are expected to explore stock market listings in the next few years.

Monzo, Revolut and Starling Bank are all likely to float by the end of 2028, although London is far from certain to be the destination for all of them.

Similarly, OakNorth’s ambition to grow its US presence means it is likely to be advised by bankers that New York is a more logical listing venue for the business.

Launched in 2015, the bank is among a group of lenders founded after the 2008 financial crisis.

Its UK clients include F1 Arcade and Ultimate Performance, both of which have themselves expanded into the US market.

Its existing backers include the giant Japanese investor SoftBank, GIC, the Singaporean state fund, and Toscafund, the London-based asset management firm.

Since its launch, OakNorth has lent around £12.5bn and boasts an industry-leading loan default ratio.

Last year, it paid out just over £30m to shareholders in its maiden dividend payment.

OakNorth has been growing rapidly, saying this year that it had recorded pre-tax profits of £214.8m in 2024, up from £187.3m the previous year.

It made more than £2.1bn of new loans last year.

On Friday, a spokesperson for OakNorth declined to comment.

World

Ukraine vows to continue drone attacks until there’s a peace deal

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1 hour ago

August 15, 2025

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Ukraine vows to continue drone attacks until there's a peace deal

Ukraine says there will be no let-up in its punishing long-range drone attacks on Russia until Moscow agrees to peace.

The warning comes ahead of Vladimir Putin meeting Donald Trump in Alaska.

Ukraine war latest: Trump prepares for summit with Putin

It was made in a rare interview with one of the key commanders of Ukraine’s drone forces.

We met in an undisclosed location in woods outside Kyiv. Brigadier General Yuriy Shchygol is a wanted man.

There is a quiet, understated but steely resolve about this man hunted by Russia. His eyes are piercing and he speaks with precision and determination.

His drone units have done billions of dollars of damage to Russia’s economy and their range and potency is increasing exponentially.

“Operations”, he said euphemistically, “will develop if Russia refuses a just peace and stays on Ukrainian territory”.

“Initially, we had a few drones a month, capable of striking targets 100 to 250 kilometres away. Today, we have drones capable of flying 3,000 to 4,000 kilometres, and that’s not the limit, it’s constrained only by fuel supply, which can be increased”.

His teams had just carried off one of their most complicated and most devastating strikes yet. A massive fire was raging in an oil refinery in Volgograd, or Stalingrad as it was once called.

“If the refinery is completely destroyed, it will be one of the largest operations conducted,” Brigadier General Shchygol said. “There have been other major targets too, in Saratov and Akhtubinsk. Those refineries are now either non-operational or functioning at only 5% of capacity.”

Oil is potentially Vladimir Putin’s Achilles heel. So much of his economy and war effort is dependent on it. Donald Trump could cripple Russia tomorrow if he sanctioned it but so has appeared reluctant to do so, a source of constant frustration for the Ukrainians.

Military activity on both sides has increased as diplomacy has picked up pace.

In another long-range attack, Ukraine says it hit the port of Olya in Russia’s Astrakhan region, striking a ship loaded with drone parts and ammunition sent from Iran.

But on the ground, Russian forces have made a surprise advance of more than 15km into Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine says the intrusion can be contained, but it adds to fears about its ability to hold back the Russians along the 1000-mile frontline.

Russia launches almost nightly drone attacks on Ukraine’s cities, killing civilians and striking residential targets.

General Yuriy says Ukraine picks targets that hurt Russia’s war effort, and it is constantly honing its capability.

“Each operation”, he says, “uses multiple types of drones simultaneously, some fly higher, others lower. That is our technical edge.”

How satisfying, I asked, was it to watch so much enemy infrastructure go up in smoke? He answered with detached professionalism.

“It does not bring me pleasure, war can never be a source of enjoyment. Each of us has tasks we could fulfil in peacetime. But this is war; it doesn’t bring satisfaction. However, it benefits the state and harms our enemy.”

Whatever happens in Alaska, General Yuriy and his teams will continue pioneering drone warfare, hitting Vladimir Putin’s economy where it hurts most.