A Working Checklist for Understanding eGFR
Understanding eGFR: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
An estimate of how much blood the kidneys filter per minute, calculated from a blood test. It is an estimate rather than a measurement, and a single low result frequently means something other than kidney disease.
Key takeaways
- Calculated from: creatinine, age and sex
- Normal: generally 90 or above
- Most useful single change: Ask for a repeat before accepting a CKD label.
- Commonest mistake: Panicking at a single reduced eGFR.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Ask for a repeat before accepting a CKD label
- Ask for your ACR as well; it changes the risk picture substantially
- Be well hydrated when the sample is taken
- Track the trend over years rather than reacting to one figure
Do not
- Panicking at a single reduced eGFR
- Assuming a normal eGFR means no kidney problem; ACR can still be raised
- Comparing your figure to someone of a different age without context
The numbers behind the list
Where the items above come from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Calculated from | creatinine, age and sex |
| Normal | generally 90 or above |
| CKD requires | an abnormal result persisting for at least 3 months |
| Affected by | muscle mass, dehydration, recent meat intake, some medicines |
If you change one thing
Ask for a repeat before accepting a CKD label. If you only change one thing, make it that.
Where to go next
- Starting Out With Understanding eGFR
- Your Questions About Understanding eGFR, Answered
- Understanding eGFR — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Diet and Kidney Disease, Without the Hype
- Acute Kidney Injury: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Contact a GP promptly for a rapid fall in eGFR, or for a low eGFR alongside swelling, breathlessness, passing much less urine, or confusion. Any abnormal result during illness should be repeated once you have recovered.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Chronic kidney disease: assessment and management
- Kidney Care UK — blood tests
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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