Cardiovascular-Endocrine-Metabolic Medicine: Proposing a New Clinical Sub-Specialty Amid the Cardiometabolic Pandemic.

Nikolaos Theodorakis, Maria Nikolaou, Andrew Krentz

Journal: Biomolecules 2025;15(3):

PMID: 40149908

Abstract

Cardiovascular-Renal-Hepatic-Metabolic diseases are on the rise worldwide, creating major challenges for patient care and clinical research. Although these conditions share common mechanisms and often respond to similar treatments-such as lifestyle changes and newer cardiometabolic drugs (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists)-clinical management remains divided among multiple specialties. Recently proposed curricula in Cardiometabolic Medicine and Preventive Cardiology reflect an effort to address this fragmentation. In addition, recent studies reveal that hormonal deficiencies may increase cardiovascular risk and worsen heart failure, with emerging data showing that correcting these imbalances can improve exercise capacity and possibly reduce major cardiac events. To overcome gaps in care, we propose a new sub-specialty: Cardiovascular-Endocrine-Metabolic Medicine. This approach unifies three main pillars: (1) Lifestyle medicine, emphasizing nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation; (2) the Integrated Medical Management of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, early-stage kidney disease, metabolic-associated liver disease, and related conditions; and (3) hormonal therapies, focused on optimizing sex hormones and other endocrine pathways to benefit cardiometabolic health. By bridging cardiology, endocrinology, and metabolic medicine, this sub-specialty offers a more seamless framework for patient care, speeds up the adoption of new treatments, and sets the stage for innovative research-all critical steps in addressing the escalating cardiometabolic pandemic.

Address: NT-CardioMetabolics, Clinic for Metabolism and Athletic Performance, 47 Tirteou Str., 17564 Palaio Faliro, Greece.; Department of Cardiology & Preventive Cardiology Outpatient Clinic, Amalia Fleming General Hospital, 14, 25th Martiou Str., 15127 Melissia, Greece.; School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, 11527 Athens, Greece.; Department of Cardiology & Preventive Cardiology Outpatient Clinic, Amalia Fleming General Hospital, 14, 25th Martiou Str., 15127 Melissia, Greece.; School of Life Course & Population Health Sciences, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
Bant logo

© Copyright 2026, Nutrition Evidence

NED wishes to thank the following organisations for their support:

We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze site traffic with Google Analytics. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more.