What Is eGFR?
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) estimates how much blood your kidneys are filtering per minute. It's the primary clinical marker for kidney function and is used to stage chronic kidney disease (CKD).
eGFR is calculated from your serum creatinine level, adjusted for age and sex.
How the Kidneys Work and Why eGFR Matters
The kidneys filter approximately 180 litres of blood per day. A healthy young adult has an eGFR above 90 mL/min/1.73m². Early chronic kidney disease is almost entirely silent — there are no symptoms in stages 1 through 3. Regular monitoring is the only way to catch it early.
eGFR Stages and Interpretation
Stage 1 (G1): 90+ — Normal. Stage 2 (G2): 60–89 — Mildly decreased. Stage 3a: 45–59 — Mildly to moderately decreased. Stage 3b: 30–44 — Moderately to severely decreased. Stage 4: 15–29 — Severely decreased. Stage 5: Below 15 — Kidney failure.
What Causes eGFR to Decline?
How to Protect Kidney Function
Is eGFR Tested in a Standard Physical?
Yes — creatinine and calculated eGFR are typically included in basic metabolic panels. What a standard physical often misses is urinalysis for proteinuria, which Stem Health includes in the Core Assessment.
