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eGFR: How Well Are Your Kidneys Filtering?
All NiaHealth tests are processed in Canadian-certified labs, which are highly trusted by the medical community for their accuracy and reliability. Blood and urine samples are collected by licensed medical professionals and processed using state-of-the-art equipment. NiaHealth is SOC2 Type 2 certified.
What is it?
eGFRcr (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate using creatinine) is a measure of how well the kidneys are filtering the blood. It is calculated using serum creatinine together with age and sex, using the CKD-EPI creatinine equation (2021). Lower values indicate reduced kidney function.
Creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism and its concentration is influenced by factors such as muscle mass, diet, and hydration status. As a result, eGFRcr may be less accurate in individuals with unusually low or high muscle mass or in situations where creatinine production is altered.
Why it matters
Progressive decline in kidney function (chronic kidney disease) is a major contributor to aging-related illness and death, yet many people are unaware that they have chronic kidney disease because there are often no symptoms.
Reference ranges
At NiaHealth, we define an optimal eGFRcr as ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m². This threshold is intended to support early identification of potentially modifiable risk factors and to enable preventative and behavioral recommendations. A single test should not be used to diagnose reduced kidney function as eGFR can vary with hydration status, protein intake, and other short-term factors.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (EGFR) [Internet]. National Kidney Foundation. 2023. Available from: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr
Grill AK. Approach to the detection and management of chronic kidney disease: What primary care providers need to know [Internet]. The College of Family Physicians of Canada. 2018. Available from: https://www.cfp.ca/content/64/10/728
Levin A, Hemmelgarn BR, Culleton BF, Tobe SW, McFarlane P, Ruzicka M, et al. Guidelines for the management of chronic kidney disease. Canadian Medical Association Journal [Internet]. 2008 Nov 18;179(11):1154-62. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.080351'
This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.
