Madeline Rabbitt
Nurse, Croí Heart & Stroke Charity
Cardiometabolic disease refers to a group of serious conditions, including heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Cardiometabolic health goes beyond a single reading on a weighing scale or blood pressure monitor. Weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, kidney function and heart health are closely linked, so problems in one area often affect others.
Metabolic risk factors
Early warning signs appear as metabolic risk factors: high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, high triglycerides, excess abdominal fat and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Having three or more risk factors leads to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, significantly increasing future disease risk. Genetics, certain medications, smoking, stress, poor diet and inactivity all contribute.
TILDA also found that 40% of adults over 50 meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Hidden threat of high blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most common and under-recognised risks. It measures the force of blood against artery walls, recorded as systolic over diastolic pressure. Persistently high readings strain the heart and damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart, brain, kidney and eye disease.
Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) Wave 6 (January 2026) show that 71% of older adults had high blood pressure, up from 64% in 2014/15. Yet only 56% were aware of their diagnosis, and 62% were not adequately managed. Even among those treated, just 33% achieved the European target of below 130/80 mmHg.
In 2024, Croí, the Irish Farmers Association and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reported that 50% of 1,200 farmers attending free health checks had elevated blood pressure or cholesterol.
TILDA also found that 40% of adults over 50 meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Those with low physical activity were 71% more likely to be affected. Encouragingly, about a quarter no longer met the criteria four years later, showing it can be reversed.
Prevention and early detection
Cardiometabolic disease is largely preventable and manageable. Early detection allows lifestyle changes such as adopting a Mediterranean-style diet, increasing physical activity, managing weight and stopping smoking. These actions improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of life-threatening disease.
