What does an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) greater than 60 indicate?

From the Guidelines

An eGFR greater than 60 mL/min/1.73m² indicates normal or mildly reduced kidney function, suggesting that the kidneys are filtering blood effectively. This is a reassuring finding, and no specific intervention is typically needed for an eGFR in this range, though maintaining healthy habits remains important 1.

Key Points to Consider

• Continue with regular health check-ups as recommended by your healthcare provider, usually annually if you have no other kidney risk factors.
• Stay well-hydrated, follow a balanced diet moderate in sodium, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and use medications like NSAIDs cautiously.
• If you have conditions that could affect kidney function such as diabetes or hypertension, proper management of these conditions is essential.
• The eGFR measures how well your kidneys filter waste from your blood, with values above 60 generally considered within the normal range for adults, though normal kidney function does decline somewhat with age 1.

Maintaining Kidney Health

To maintain kidney health, it is crucial to:

• Monitor and manage any underlying health conditions that could impact kidney function.
• Make lifestyle changes that support overall health, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and not smoking.
• Be mindful of medication use, especially NSAIDs, which can affect kidney function if used improperly.

Given the information from the studies 1, the primary concern is maintaining overall health and monitoring kidney function over time to catch any potential issues early.

From the Research

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Greater Than 60

• An eGFR greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 indicates that the kidney function is within the normal range or stage 1 and 2 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) 2.
• However, it is essential to note that normal eGFR values can overlap with values in stages 1 and 2 of CKD, and an eGFR greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 does not exclude kidney disease 2.
• According to the US National Kidney Foundation, chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be defined as a GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 2.
• In healthy adults, eGFR values are typically greater than 63.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, but these values can decrease with age 3, 2.
• The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (K-DIGO) guidelines use a fixed cut-off value of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 to define CKD, but this concept has been challenged due to the lack of consideration of age in these definitions 3.

Age Considerations

• GFR physiologically decreases with age, and in adults older than 70 years, values below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 could be considered normal 3.
• The reference intervals for eGFR can vary depending on the equation used, and age is an essential factor to consider when interpreting eGFR results 2, 4.

Clinical Implications

• eGFR is widely used to assess kidney function, but it has limitations, and measured GFR (mGFR) may be necessary in certain clinical scenarios, such as extreme body composition or disagreement between creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR 5, 6.
• The evaluation of GFR is crucial in living kidney donor candidates, and a comprehensive set of recommendations has been published by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (K-DIGO) guideline development group 6.