Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Which of the following illnesses or conditions would most likely predispose a patient to chronic renal failure?

1. Strep throat

2. Hypertension

3. Asthma

4. Heart failure

The correct answer is: Hypertension

Chronic renal failure, or chronic kidney disease, is often the result of long-standing conditions that affect kidney function over time. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for developing chronic renal failure because it can cause damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys. Over time, uncontrolled hypertension leads to reduced blood flow and increased pressure in the renal vasculature, which can ultimately result in kidney damage and a decline in renal function. In contrast, while conditions such as strep throat, asthma, and heart failure may have various acute impacts on health, they do not directly correlate with a progressive deterioration of kidney function like hypertension does. Strep throat typically resolves with treatment and does not usually contribute to chronic kidney disease. Asthma primarily affects the respiratory system and does not directly influence kidney health. Heart failure can have indirect effects on renal function due to decreased cardiac output; however, it is primarily a heart condition and does not present the same direct causal relationship with chronic renal failure as hypertension does. Thus, hypertension is recognized as a leading contributor to chronic renal failure due to its capacity to cause persistent injury to the kidneys over time through sustained high-pressure states in the renal circulation.