Which is an expected combination of assessment findings in chronic kidney disease?

• A. Weight loss; Hypokalemia; Hypotension
• B. Jaundice; Hyperglycemia; Dehydration
• C. Fatigue; Edema; Hyperkalemia; Hypertension
• D. Shortness of breath; Hypoxemia; Tachycardia

Answer: (C)

Chronic kidney disease disrupts filtration, causing fluid overload and electrolyte imbalances. The kidneys’ reduced ability to excrete potassium leads to hyperkalemia, while sodium and water retention raise volume status, producing edema and hypertension. At the same time, diminished erythropoietin production contributes to fatigue. This combination—fatigue from anemia, edema from fluid retention, hyperkalemia, and hypertension from volume overload and RAAS activation—matches the typical assessment findings in CKD.

Other options mix items that aren’t characteristic together for CKD, such as jaundice and dehydration or hypoxemia with tachycardia, which can occur in other conditions but don’t define the CKD picture.