What is an eGFR?

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a measurement of how well your kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. This rate is one of the best ways to evaluate how healthy your kidneys are working. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a calculation of your GFR, using a formula that looks at your age, gender, race, and creatinine level. It is a very useful tool in determining the overall health of your kidneys.

The Importance of eGFR

Having an accurate eGFR is important for monitoring the function of your kidneys. Since the kidneys are responsible for eliminating waste from the body, any changes in their ability to filter the blood can result in serious health issues. An abnormal eGFR may be an indicator of kidney disease, a serious condition that can be difficult to treat if not caught early.

If your eGFR is low, your doctor might suggest further testing to confirm that you have kidney disease. This can include an analysis of your urine, an ultrasound or MRI of your kidneys, and/or a biopsy of your kidney tissue. Having an eGFR that is too high can be an indication of too much waste in the body and can indicate other medical problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Factors Affecting eGFR

There are several different factors that can affect your eGFR. These include age, gender, race, and creatinine level. Age is a factor since an individual’s kidneys tend to decrease in efficiency as they grow older. Females also tend to have slightly lower eGFRs than males, likely due to differences in body composition. Race is also an important factor, as some racial groups have higher eGFR values than others. Lastly, creatinine level is the most important factor in determining eGFR, as it is a measurement of the amount of waste in the blood.

Additionally, certain medications and lifestyle habits can affect your eGFR. For example, if you have been taking diuretics, or medications designed to make you urinate more frequently, your eGFR may be lower than normal. Alcohol consumption and not getting enough sleep can also impact your eGFR.

Conclusion

Knowing your eGFR is essential for ensuring that your kidneys are healthy and functioning properly. An eGFR test is an easy, noninvasive way of determining your kidney health. While a low result can be an indicator of kidney disease, an eGFR that is too high can be an indication of many other medical problems. Keeping track of your eGFR is important for monitoring your overall health and health of your kidneys.