Reviewed November 2020
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Prevent, Detect, Support, Research.
Fact sheet
Estimated Glomerular
Filtration Rate
(eGFR)
What is eGFR?
eGFR stands for ‘estimated Glomerular If your doctor orders a blood test
Filtration Rate.’ The glomerular filtration result to learn more about your kidney
rate measures how well your kidneys function, creatinine will be measured
filter the wastes from your blood and and an eGFR result will be provided.
is the best overall measure of kidney It is not reported in children aged less
function. Its helps determine if you than 18 years, if you are known to be
have any kidney damage. If your pregnant or if there are other reasons
filtration rate is low, your kidneys are for the result being invalid.
not working properly. Normal filtration
Your eGFR result helps your doctor
rate in young adults is about 90–100
to determine how well your kidneys
millilitres every minute .
are working. Your doctor may also
It is difficult to calculate the exact test for other signs and conditions,
rate at which your kidneys are including albumin in your urine
working so a special formula has (albuminuria), blood in the urine
been developed to estimate your GFR (haematuria), high blood pressure
(eGFR). This formula uses your age, and diabetes. This helps to decide
gender and the level of creatinine in if you have chronic or longer term
your blood to estimate your GFR. conditions causing kidney disease.
Creatinine is a waste product made For more information see fact sheets
by the muscles. It is usually removed Albuminuria, Blood in the Urine and All
from the blood by the kidneys before About and Chronic Kidney Disease.
passing out in the urine. When your
kidneys aren’t working well, more
creatinine stays in the blood.
What does my eGFR result look like?
Your eGFR is reported in millilitres 90 mL/min/1.73m2. eGFR results of less than 90, the actual value will be
per minute which is written as 90 or greater may be shown on a shown. For example, a result of 105
mL/min/1.73m2 (the “1.73m2” indicates pathology report as the actual value may be shown as 105 mL/min/1.73m2
a result expressed relative to body or as eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m2, or as ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m2. A result
surface area). A normal GFR in a depending on the preference of the of 67 would be shown as 67 mL/
young adult is greater than pathology laboratory. If your eGFR is min/1.73m2.
The symbol ≥ means ‘greater than or equal to’.
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Kidney Health Australia Estimated Glomerular Reviewed November 2020
Prevent, Detect, Support, Research. Filtration Rate (eGFR) Page 2/3
What if my eGFR What if my eGFR
is above 60? is below 60?
If your result is over 60 mL/min/1.73m2, If your eGFR is above 60 mLmin/1.73m2 A value below 60 mL/min/1.73m2
your kidney function is normal or close and there are no signs of kidney suggests some loss of kidney function.
to normal. Current kidney damage is damage, your doctor may still decide To confirm this, your doctor will most
excluded unless other tests for kidney to monitor your kidney function and/or likely repeat the blood test. Monitoring
damage are abnormal. discuss healthy lifestyle choices. changes to your eGFR also tells
your doctor how fast or slowly your
For example, your doctor may also
condition is progressing.
perform some tests on your urine
to check for signs of kidney damage. To be diagnosed with CKD you
These tests are typically looking for must have a GFR less than 60 mL/
blood in the urine, or protein in the min/1.73m2 for more than three
urine. If these tests are abnormal for months, or some other signs of
more than three months, even if your kidney damage (such as albuminuria,
eGFR is above 60mL/min/1.73m2, you haematuria, or abnormal kidney
may still be diagnosed with Chronic ultrasound or kidney biopsy results).
Kidney Disease (CKD).
Stages of chronic kidney disease
Kidney function can be classified into stages depending on your eGFR. Your eGFR and albuminuria results are
combined to provide an overall picture
Stage 1 A normal eGFR greater than or equal to 90 mL/min/1.73m2 of how well your kidneys are working.
Your doctor uses this information
Stage 2 Slightly decreased eGFR between 60–89 mL/min/1.73m2
to decide which treatment is best
If your kidney function is at stage 1 or 2, you only have for you. Treatment also depends on
CKD if you have albuminuria, haematuria, a pathological the cause of your kidney damage.
abnormality or a structural abnormality. Controlling diabetes and high blood
pressure can help to slow or prevent
Stage 3a ild–moderate decrease in eGFR between
M
further kidney damage. It also reduces
45–59 mL/min/1.73m2
the risk of other health problems,
Stage 3b Moderate–severe decrease in eGFR between such as heart attacks and strokes.
30–44 mL/min/1.73m2 See the All About Chronic Kidney
Stage 4 Severe decrease in eGFR between 15–29 mL/min/1.73m2 Disease fact sheet for more information.
Stage 5 Kidney failure as eGFR decreases to less than
15 mL/min/1.73m2 or dialysis is started
Who is more at risk of chronic kidney disease?
You are at increased risk of chronic • have high blood pressure • are a smoker
kidney disease if you:
• have diabetes • are 60 years or older
• have established heart problems • are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait
(heart failure or past heart attack) Islander origin
and/or had a stroke
• have had history of acute kidney
• have a family history of kidney failure injury
• are obese (body mass index greater
than or equal to 30)
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Kidney Health Australia Estimated Glomerular Reviewed November 2020
Prevent, Detect, Support, Research. Filtration Rate (eGFR) Page 3/3
THINGS TO REMEMBER
• Your eGFR measures how well your kidneys filter the wastes
from your blood and is the best overall measure of kidney
function.
• To be diagnosed with CKD you must have a GFR less than
60mL/min/1.73m2 for more than three months, or some other
signs of kidney damage (such as albuminuria, haematuria, or
abnormal kidney ultrasound or kidney biopsy results).
• Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure can help to slow
or prevent further kidney damage. It also reduces the risk of
other health problems, such as heart attacks and strokes.
What does that word mean?
Acute kidney injury - A loss of kidney Creatinine - Waste that is produced Haematuria - The medical term for
function that happens quickly which by the muscles. It is usually removed blood in your urine. It can turn urine a
may or may not be permanent. from your blood by your kidneys and red or dark cola colour, which is visible
passes out in your urine (wee). When to the eye or may only be found by a
Albuminuria - Occurs when albumin
your kidneys aren’t working properly, urine test (microscopic haematuria).
is present in the urine. There are
creatinine stays in your blood. Blood in the urine is a common sign of
filters in the kidneys that prevent large
urinary tract infections but can be the
molecules, such as albumin, from Diabetes - A chronic disease caused
first sign of a problem with the kidneys
passing through. If these filters are by problems with the production and/
or the bladder.
damaged, albumin passes from the or action of insulin in the body which
blood into the urine. helps control blood sugar levels. Ultrasound - An imaging procedure
that uses sound waves to show
Body mass index (BMI) - An Kidney biopsy - A small piece of
structures and functions inside
approximate measure of your total kidney tissue is removed for testing
your body.
body fat. It is worked out by dividing and examined under a microscope.
your weight in kilograms by your
height in metres squared (m2).
For more information This is intended as a general
introduction to this topic and is not
If you have a hearing
about kidney or urinary meant to substitute for your doctor’s
or Health Professional’s advice. or speech impairment,
health, please contact All care is taken to ensure that
the information is relevant to contact the National
our free call Kidney the reader and applicable to
each state in Australia. It should
Relay Service on
1800 555 677 or
Helpline on 1800 454 363. be noted that Kidney Health
Australia recognises that each relayservice.com.au
person’s experience is individual
Or visit our website and that variations do occur in
treatment and management due to
For all types of services
ask for 1800 454 363
kidney.org.au to access personal circumstances, the health
professional and the state one
free health literature. lives in. Should you require further
information always consult your
doctor or health professional.
Kidney Health Australia gratefully
acknowledges the valuable
contribution of the Royal College
of Pathologists of Australasia
for the review of this material.
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