Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
Estimated glomerular filtration rate declines steadily with age in both sexes, with the entire population distribution shifting lower across each successive decade of adulthood.
Unit: mL/min/1.73 m² · 12 slices · age and sex · 2 sources
Filed under panels: Renal Function , Metabolic Panel · topics: Metabolic , Renal
eGFR is not measured directly in NHANES. It is derived here from serum creatinine, age, and sex using the 2021 CKD-EPI creatinine equation, the current race-free standard used in clinical practice. Because these are population percentiles, the distribution includes individuals with reduced kidney function as well as those with normal filtration.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mL/min/1.73 m²) | female (mL/min/1.73 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 86–130.1 (119) | 87–133.5 (122.2) |
| 30-39 | 78.1–122.1 (111.2) | 83.2–126 (113.9) |
| 40-49 | 74.9–116.3 (100.6) | 73.4–116.4 (105.7) |
| 50-59 | 64.1–108.8 (93.4) | 66.5–110.9 (98.7) |
| 60-69 | 55.8–103.3 (85) | 55.6–102.7 (84.3) |
| 70+ | 39.7–95.5 (75.9) | 40.1–95.1 (72.3) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eGFR a measured lab value?
No. eGFR is an estimate calculated from serum creatinine together with age and sex. It is useful for population comparisons, but it is still an estimate rather than a directly measured filtration rate.
Why does eGFR fall with age even in the general population?
Glomerular filtration declines gradually with age, even outside overt kidney disease. When chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and vascular disease are added in at the population level, the full distribution shifts lower with each decade.
Which equation is used here?
These pages use the 2021 race-free CKD-EPI creatinine equation, derived from serum creatinine, age, and sex.