Global trends and the case of China in Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic multimorbidity: development and validation of a composite risk index using GBD 1990–2021 data

The CKM Index provides a promising methodological prototype for quantifying multimorbidity burden and reveals alarming global escalation trends with pronounced health inequalities. The syndemic nature of CKM diseases demands paradigmatic shifts from specialty-siloed to integrated chronic disease management. Countries achieving burden reductions within similar development contexts demonstrate the potential for coordinated policy interventions. Urgent global action is required to address the growing CKM crisis through enhanced surveillance, integrated care delivery, and targeted interventions addressing social determinants of health.