<qa>  What is the main reason for the elevated risk of CVD?3. Background to the project and pilot data: i CVD in CKD: CV death rates are up to 3.4 times higher in patients with CKD compared to the general population1. The investigators and others have demonstrated a graded relationship between CV events and death with declining renal function2. Traditional risk factors only partially explain the elevated risk. This highlights the importance of non-traditional risk factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and vitamin D deficiency as modifiable CV risk factors in CKD. 