It has long been acknowledged that the risk of cardiovascular disease is impacted by a complex interplay between the heart and kidneys. The relationship among cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, has now been recognized as "cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome". Specialist clinicians have historically approached these disorders as separate diseases, with individual treatment plans specific to dysfunction of each organ system. However, the recognition of a syndrome of CKM dysfunction and the advent of therapeutic agents with pleiomorphic effects across multiple organ systems, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, which target various components of CKM, may encourage clinicians to take a more holistic approach to treatment of people with CKM.