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Also: estimated GFR · estimated glomerular filtration rate · kidney function
A calculated estimate of how well the kidneys are filtering, based on serum creatinine, age, and sex. Reported in mL/min/1.73m². Above 90 = normal; 60-89 = mildly reduced; 30-59 = moderately reduced (CKD Stage 3); under 30 = severely reduced (Stage 4); under 15 = kidney failure (Stage 5).
eGFR is calculated from a blood test (serum creatinine) using an equation that incorporates age and sex. (Historical race-adjustment was removed from the standard CKD-EPI equation in 2021 after evidence showed it was inappropriate.) The result is reported in mL/min/1.73m² and approximates how much blood the kidneys filter per minute per standard body surface area.
CKD Stages: • **Stage 1**: eGFR ≥90 with evidence of kidney damage (protein in urine, structural abnormalities) • **Stage 2**: eGFR 60-89 with evidence of damage • **Stage 3a**: eGFR 45-59 — moderately reduced • **Stage 3b**: eGFR 30-44 — moderately to severely reduced • **Stage 4**: eGFR 15-29 — severely reduced; nephrology referral typical; transplant + dialysis planning begins • **Stage 5 / ESRD**: eGFR <15 — kidney failure; dialysis or transplant needed
Why eGFR matters for caregiving: • **Medication dosing**: many medications (especially antibiotics, antivirals, gabapentin, NSAIDs, some opioids) require dose adjustment based on eGFR. A medication safe at eGFR 60 may be toxic at eGFR 30. • **NSAIDs are problematic at lower eGFR**: ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, ketorolac all reduce kidney blood flow and can accelerate decline. Patients with eGFR <60 should be very cautious with chronic NSAID use. • **Contrast for imaging**: iodinated contrast (CT scans) and gadolinium (MRI) can damage kidneys at lower eGFR. The radiology team will ask; the family should know the most-recent eGFR. • **Surgery + procedure planning**: significantly reduced eGFR changes anesthesia choices, fluid management, and post-op monitoring intensity. • **Vaccine + medication selection in CKD**: certain biologic drugs, diabetes medications (SGLT2 inhibitors), and others have eGFR-based eligibility thresholds.
Trending eGFR over time: • Stable eGFR (decline <1 per year): kidney health is being maintained • Slowly declining (1-3 per year): expected with normal aging; not concerning • Rapid decline (>5 per year, or 25% drop): triggers urgent nephrology referral + workup for reversible causes • Sudden drop: usually an acute kidney injury (dehydration, medication, infection, contrast); often reversible if caught early
Family tracking: serial eGFR values matter more than any single value. A Kintaria workspace charts the trend automatically alongside A1c, blood pressure, and weight — the four numbers that together tell most of the chronic-disease story for older adults.
Anytime kidney function is being monitored — diabetes, hypertension, advanced heart failure, after certain medications (ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs). Tracking the trend matters more than any single value.
Terms families frequently confuse with egfr.
eGFR measures kidney function; A1c measures diabetes control. Both are tracked together in diabetic patients because high A1c over years damages kidneys (the chain: diabetic nephropathy → declining eGFR). Tracking both reveals both the cause + the consequence.
See also: all glossary terms · conditions by name · step-by-step playbooks