Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), long implicated in metabolic damage, may also serve as markers of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome progression. 

A study published in the Journal of Diabetes investigated the relationship between serum (AGEs) and (CKM) syndrome progression. This three-year longitudinal study (2019–2022) included 1264 adults and identified five CKM trajectory groups: Group 1, stable low-risk (6.7%, stage 0/1); Group 2, fluctuating (15.8%, stages 0/1–2); Group 3, stable intermediate (52.8%, stage 2); Group 4, progressors (8.9%, stage 3/4); and Group 5, stable high-risk (15.8%, stage 3/4). At baseline, 1.6% were at stage 0, 12.3% at stage 1, 71.0% at stage 2, 5.8% at stage 3, and 9.2% at stage 4. Serum AGEs were measured using UPLC-MS/MS.

Higher AGEs levels were significantly associated with CKM severity. Each 1-SD increase corresponded to a 30% higher likelihood of advanced CKM staging (95% CI: 10%–54%). Quartile analysis showed a dose–response relationship: Q2: 1.66 (1.15–2.41), Q3: 1.67 (1.12–2.48), Q4: 1.92 (1.31–2.81). Longitudinally, AGEs levels were linked to CKM trajectory patterns, with odds ratios for Groups 2–5 compared to Group 1 ranging from 1.61 (1.06–2.45) to 2.03 (1.32–3.13).

The findings suggest that serum AGEs may serve as biomarkers for CKM staging and could represent targets for early intervention to prevent disease progression.