Which condition is a primary risk factor commonly associated with chronic kidney disease?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Osteoarthritis
• C. Asthma
• D. Hypothyroidism

Answer: (A)

Long-standing high blood pressure damages the kidneys by increasing pressure inside the glomeruli, which over time leads to nephrosclerosis and scarring that reduce filtration. This makes hypertension a primary risk factor commonly associated with chronic kidney disease. The damage often progresses silently, with microalbuminuria as an early sign, and lowering blood pressure helps slow CKD progression. The other conditions listed—osteoarthritis, asthma, and hypothyroidism—are not primary drivers of CKD, though they may occur in patients with CKD or affect care, they do not initiate CKD in the way elevated blood pressure can.