Individuals with which of the following conditions are at risk for hyperkalemia?

Individuals with chronic kidney disease are at risk for hyperkalemia because their kidneys are less efficient at filtering potassium from the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys regulate potassium levels by excreting excess amounts in urine. However, in chronic kidney disease, the ability to eliminate potassium diminishes due to impaired renal function. This leads to the accumulation of potassium in the body, resulting in hyperkalemia, which can have serious cardiovascular implications.

While asthma, hypertension, and diabetes may influence potassium levels and overall health, they do not directly impair the kidneys' ability to excrete potassium in the same way that chronic kidney disease does. Asthma is related to respiratory function, hypertension often deals with vascular health, and diabetes can lead to various complications but does not inherently cause the same renal dysfunction affecting potassium regulation as seen in chronic kidney disease. Therefore, those with chronic kidney disease are more specifically at risk for developing hyperkalemia due to their compromised kidney function.