Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): eGFR Cutoffs on Labels
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Chronic kidney disease

Also called CKD, kidney disease, kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease · Reviewed

Definition: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means the kidneys are damaged and slowly lose the ability to filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. NIDDK estimates more than 35 million US adults, more than 1 in 7, have it. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two most common causes, and most people have no symptoms until it is advanced.

The numbers behind it

NIDDK says a GFR of 60 or more is in the normal range, less than 60 may mean kidney disease, and 15 or less is called kidney failure. The GFR is usually estimated from blood creatinine (see eGFR). A urine test for albumin, a protein a healthy kidney keeps in the blood, is the other main check. NIDDK lists anemia, high blood pressure, bone and mineral problems and high potassium among its complications.

How labels use it

  • Metformin must not be used with an eGFR below 30, and is stopped if eGFR later falls below 30.
  • Jardiance and Farxiga are approved to lower the risk of kidney decline, end-stage kidney disease and heart death in adults with CKD at risk of getting worse.
  • Ozempic is approved to lower the risk of kidney decline, kidney failure and heart death in adults with type 2 diabetes and CKD.
  • Epogen is approved to treat anemia caused by CKD.

Why it matters for your log

Kidney labs drift slowly, so the trend matters more than one result. Keeping each eGFR with its date, and noting days of vomiting, diarrhea or poor drinking around it, helps a clinician tell a real change from a short dip.

Read more on Dose Track: Kidney problems on GLP-1 medicines · Osteoporosis medicines and kidney disease · Farxiga side effects · Metformin vs Jardiance

General education drawn from labels and published studies, not personal medical advice. Your prescriber, pharmacist and the label that came with your product are the final word.
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a number that estimates how well your kidneys filter waste… CreatinineCreatinine is a normal waste product made when muscles are used and some muscle tissue breaks down. The… Acute kidney injuryAcute kidney injury (AKI), also called acute kidney failure, is a fast drop in how well the kidneys work.… SGLT2 inhibitorAn SGLT2 inhibitor is a class of oral drugs that includes empagliflozin (Jardiance), dapagliflozin… AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the blood has fewer healthy red blood cells, or less hemoglobin, than… HypertensionHypertension is the medical word for high blood pressure. NHLBI says blood pressure is high when readings…

Frequently asked questions

What eGFR means chronic kidney disease?+
NIDDK says a GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease and 15 or less is kidney failure. A urine albumin test is also used.
How common is chronic kidney disease?+
NIDDK estimates more than 35 million US adults, more than 1 in 7, have CKD, and most do not know it because early CKD has no symptoms.

Sources

  1. NIDDK (NIH): What is chronic kidney disease?
  2. NIDDK (NIH): CKD tests and diagnosis
  3. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: chronic kidney disease
  4. Metformin hydrochloride tablets US prescribing information, DailyMed
  5. Jardiance (empagliflozin) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  6. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  7. Ozempic (semaglutide) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  8. Epogen (epoetin alfa) US prescribing information, DailyMed

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