Cardiology
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
● Sys. Review
Narrative review suggests exercise rehabilitation may retard Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome progression
Frontiers in Medicine
Published April 1, 2026
DOI ↗
This narrative review examines the mechanisms and research progress of exercise rehabilitation for Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome. The review describes exercise rehabilitation as an effective non-pharmacological intervention that may retard CKM progression through multi-target mechanisms, though specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, and statistical measures are not reported. No safety, tolerability, or adverse event data are presented in the review.
The review's primary limitation is its narrative nature—it summarizes existing literature without conducting new data synthesis, meta-analysis, or reporting specific clinical outcomes. Key methodological details including study population, sample size, setting, follow-up duration, and comparator groups are not reported. The review does not specify which studies were included or the quality of the evidence reviewed.
From a practice perspective, this review provides a theoretical basis for comprehensive CKM management but offers no new clinical data to guide specific exercise prescriptions. The authors describe an association between exercise and potential CKM benefits, but the evidence remains preliminary and descriptive. Clinicians should recognize this as a summary of research progress rather than evidence supporting specific clinical protocols.
Researchers conducted a narrative review to examine how exercise rehabilitation might affect Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome (CKM). CKM is a condition where heart, kidney, and metabolic health problems overlap and influence each other. The review looked at existing research to understand the mechanisms through which exercise might help.
The review suggests that exercise rehabilitation could be an effective non-drug approach that may slow the progression of CKM. The authors describe how exercise might work through multiple biological pathways to benefit heart, kidney, and metabolic health simultaneously. No specific patient populations, clinical outcomes, or safety concerns were detailed in this summary.
It's important to understand that this is a narrative review, not a new clinical study. The authors summarized existing literature and research progress rather than presenting original trial results with specific numbers. The review aims to provide a theoretical basis for comprehensive CKM management.
Readers should view this as a summary of current scientific thinking about how exercise might help with CKM, not as proof of specific benefits. The review highlights the potential value of exercise rehabilitation but doesn't provide the kind of detailed clinical evidence needed to make specific treatment recommendations.
What this means for you: A review suggests exercise may help slow CKM progression, but this summarizes existing research rather than presenting new clinical evidence.
View Original Abstract ↓
Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome (CKM) is a multi-organ dysfunction syndrome driven by the interaction of metabolic risk factors, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, culminating in adverse cardiovascular events. Exercise rehabilitation is an effective non-pharmacological intervention that retards CKM progression via multi-target mechanisms. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of exercise rehabilitation in CKM, the research progress on each component, and explore current challenges and future directions, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the comprehensive management of CKM.