Cardiometabolic medicine: Development of a new subspecialty

Abstract

Context: The worldwide rise in the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease, and the introduction of therapeutic options for treating metabolic disease that also lower cardiovascular risk, calls for a restructuring of how we care for patients with cardiometabolic disease. We propose establishment of a new medicine subspecialty, Cardiometabolic Medicine. Evidence Acquisition: This summary is based on a synthesis of published original and review articles identified through PubMed, professional society guidelines, and the authors' knowledge of the fields of metabolism, diabetes, and cardiology. Evidence Synthesis: The growing prevalence of cardiometabolic disease will continue to be perhaps the greatest challenge in the United States and throughout the world. We have entered an era where a large set of clinical tools are available that help prevent and treat cardiometabolic disease; however, our old models of clinical training and siloed care are barriers to rapid uptake and efficient healthcare delivery and are in need of change. Conclusions: Establishing the field of Cardiometabolic Medicine would be a small step in the right direction towards providing the best possible comprehensive care for those with complex cardiometabolic disease.