What is a common complication of untreated kidney disease related to heart function?

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is a common complication of untreated kidney disease and is closely related to heart function. This condition arises primarily due to the increased workload on the heart caused by hypertension (high blood pressure), which is common in patients with chronic kidney disease. As kidney function declines, the ability to regulate blood pressure diminishes, leading to persistent hypertension.

When the heart works harder to pump blood against this elevated pressure, the left ventricle can enlarge and thicken in response. This adaptation can eventually compromise heart function, leading to heart failure or other cardiovascular issues if not managed appropriately.

The other options may relate to kidney disease but do not directly link to heart function complications in the same way that LVH does. For example, while high cholesterol levels can be a concern in kidney disease and anemia is also prevalent, they do not cause direct structural changes to the heart muscle like LVH does. Fluid retention is another consequence of kidney disease, but it primarily leads to other complications like edema and hypertension rather than direct alteration in heart structure. Hence, left ventricular hypertrophy aligns specifically with the heart’s adaptation to the stresses imposed by untreated kidney disease.