What does my impaired renal function, indicated by a creatinine level of 0.8, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) of 78, and serum albumin of 4.4, mean for my health?

Your Kidney Function is Normal

Your laboratory values indicate completely normal kidney function for your age and sex, with no evidence of kidney disease or impairment. 1

Understanding Your Results

Serum Creatinine (0.8 mg/dL)

• Your creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL falls within the normal range, particularly for women and individuals with lower muscle mass 1, 2
• Serum creatinine alone should never be used to assess kidney function because it is affected by muscle mass, age, sex, and dietary protein intake—not just kidney filtration 1, 3
• Normal creatinine values for women typically range from 0.5-1.0 mg/dL 2

eGFR (78 mL/min/1.73 m²)

• Your eGFR of 78 mL/min/1.73 m² does not indicate chronic kidney disease 1
• Chronic kidney disease is defined as eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² persisting for at least 3 months, along with evidence of kidney damage 1
• An eGFR of 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m² is considered mildly decreased but is common in healthy individuals, especially women with lower muscle mass 2
• eGFR calculations are only validated for monitoring kidney function over months to years in steady-state conditions, not for single time-point assessments in healthy individuals 2

Serum Albumin (4.4 g/dL)

• Your albumin of 4.4 g/dL is completely normal and indicates excellent nutritional status and normal kidney function 4
• Normal albumin levels rule out significant proteinuria or kidney damage 1, 4
• Albumin levels below 4.1 g/dL are associated with declining kidney function, but your level is well above this threshold 4

Clinical Significance

No kidney-related follow-up or intervention is needed based on these results. 2

Why These Values Don't Indicate Disease

• Chronic kidney disease requires both reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m²) and evidence of kidney damage (such as albuminuria, proteinuria, or abnormal imaging) persisting for at least 3 months 1
• Your eGFR is above 60 mL/min/1.73 m², and your normal albumin indicates no proteinuria or glomerular damage 1, 4
• Single measurements in healthy individuals can vary due to hydration status, recent diet, exercise, and biological variability 2

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not misinterpret eGFR values in the 60-89 range as "kidney disease" without additional evidence of kidney damage 1
• eGFR formulas are less accurate in individuals with low or high muscle mass and should not be over-interpreted in isolation 2, 3
• A single creatinine or eGFR measurement does not establish or rule out kidney disease—trends over time and additional markers are required 1, 2

What These Results Mean for Your Health

Your kidneys are functioning normally, and you have no evidence of kidney disease. 1, 2 Your values indicate:

• Normal filtration capacity 1
• No protein leakage from the kidneys 1, 4
• Excellent nutritional status 4
• No increased cardiovascular risk from kidney dysfunction 1