The American Kidney Fund (AKF) encourages clinical laboratories to automatically report estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) whenever serum creatinine is ordered. AKF supports this recommendation of the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) because it provides individuals and their health care providers with a measure of kidney health.

Public education campaigns have helped Americans "know their numbers" for cholesterol, blood pressure and other health indicators. However, most people are unaware of the measures of kidney function. Individuals with eGFR less than 60 are advised to talk to their doctor about further testing for kidney disease. Reporting of eGFR with lab results will encourage individuals and their health care providers to address kidney function, which is vital to maintaining life and good health.

To help educate the public about the importance of kidney function testing, AKF distributes a health information wallet card which lists typical diagnostic tests, including eGFR, along with their general purpose and normal ranges. The card also describes the risk factors and tests for chronic kidney disease, as well as encouraging readers to sign up for a free kidney screening offered through AKF's MIKE (Minority Intervention Kidney Education) program. This information, along with their eGFR report, provides members of the general public and high-risk populations with an effective self-empowerment tool.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem in the United States. CKD is defined as persistent, and usually progressive, damage to the filtering units in the kidney. CKD, if left untreated, can progress to kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or transplantation. More than 470,000 people are receiving care for ESRD at a cost of almost $60,000 per patient per year covered by Medicare. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) estimates another 19 million Americans have earlier stages of chronic kidney disease.

The leading causes of CKD are diabetes and hypertension, accounting for as much as 70% of all new cases. Minority groups--African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans--are disproportionately affected by CKD, largely due to the high rates of diabetes and hypertension in these populations.

ESRD is usually the result of years of chronic kidney disease. Treatment exists to slow the progression of CKD; however, many people with CKD are unaware of the condition. Early identification of individuals at risk for chronic kidney disease can reduce the serious long-term effects of CKD on affected populations as well as potentially lowering the economic burden on our health care system.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate has been shown to be a better measure of kidney function than serum creatinine alone. The equation used to calculate GFR has been thoroughly validated. It uses a formula that can include age, gender, height, and weight, and race. These demographic factors can influence creatinine production.

Including eGFR reports, especially when screening people with risk factors for chronic kidney disease, can help inform individuals and their healthcare providers, as well as prevention efforts such as the AKF's Minority Intervention and Kidney Education (MIKE) Program, about the status of the individual's kidney function. With this information, appropriate preventive measures can be taken.