Sažetak: Kardiovaskularne bolesti (KVB) su vrlo česta komplikacija i glavni uzrok morbiditeta i mortaliteta kod bolesnika sa uznapredovalom hroničnom bubrežnom bolešću (HBB). Brojne epidemiološke studije su potvrdile ovu povezanost, a kliničke i eksperimentalne studije su proširile postojeća saznanja o patofiziološkim mehanizmima uključenim u ove procese. Tradicionalni faktori rizika za KVB su istovremeno i faktori rizika za HBB, te su stoga visoko zastupljeni u populaciji bolesnika sa HBB. Međutim, tokom progresije HBB javljaju se i netradicionalni faktori rizika specifični za uremiju, kao što su albuminurija, anemija, hiperparatireoidizam, metabolička bolest kostiju, hiperhomocistinemija, malnutricija, dislipidemija, inflamacija, endotelna disfunkcija i oksidativni stres. Krajnji rezultat aditivnog delovanja ovih faktora je ubrzani razvoj ateroskleroze što dalje ubrzava progresiju i KVB i HBB. Uprkos dostupnosti efikasnih tretmana, KVB je još uvek nedovoljno dijagnostikovana i lečena u ovoj grupi bolesnika. Bolesnike sa HBB bi stoga trebalo prepoznati kao grupu visokog KV rizika. Dodatne randomizovane, kontrolisane studije su neophodne u istraživanju preventivnih strategija i proceni terapijskih pristupa kod bolesnika sa različitim stepenima renalne disfunkcije. Ključne reči: kardiovaskularna bolest, hronična bubrežna bolest, patofiziološki mehanizmi, prevencija. Summary: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a very common complication and major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Since the first description of the association between CKD and CVD, numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed, and clinical and experimental studies have further expanded the existing knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these processes. Traditional risk factors for CVD are at the same time the risk factors for CKD, and are therefore highly represented in the CKD population. However, during CKD progression, non-traditional uremia-specific risk factors also occur, such as albuminuria, anemia, hyperparathyroidism, bone metabolic disease, hyperchomocystinaemia, malnutrition, dyslipidemia, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The ultimate result of the additive effect of these factors is the accelerated development of atherosclerosis that substantially increases the burden of CVD and accelerates the progression of CKD. Despite the availability of effective treatments, CVD is still underdiagnosed and undertreated in this group of patients. Patients with CKD should therefore be recognized as a group at high CV risk. Additional randomized, controlled trials are urgently needed in researching preventive strategies and assessing therapeutic approaches in patients with varying degrees of renal dysfunction.