NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

How is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) measured?

1. By blood sugar levels

2. By GFR or CrCl and albumin in urine

3. By heart rate

4. By liver function tests

The correct answer is: By GFR or CrCl and albumin in urine

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as healthy kidneys. This results in a buildup of waste and a decrease in the function of the kidneys over time. To measure CKD, two indicators are typically used 1. GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) - this measures how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. 2. CrCl (Creatinine Clearance) and albumin in urine - creatinine is a waste product that is filtered by the kidneys, and a buildup of it in the bloodstream can indicate reduced kidney function. Albumin is a protein that is normally not found in urine, so the presence of it can indicate kidney damage. Out of the given choices, only option B mentions these specific measures that are used to assess CKD. Therefore, B is the correct answer. The other options - blood sugar levels, heart rate, and liver function tests - are not directly related to CKD and cannot accurately measure its progression. While diabetes does increase the risk of developing CKD, blood sugar levels alone do not indicate the extent of kidney damage. Heart rate can be affected by various other factors and is not a reliable measure for CK