Lab results
Creatinine and eGFR: Understanding Your Kidney Function Results
How creatinine and eGFR measure kidney function, what affects your numbers and when a result needs a closer look.
Kidney function stages
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73m²) | What it means |
|---|---|
| 90 or above | Normal (kidney disease only if other signs of damage) |
| 60 to 89 | Mildly reduced; common with age |
| 45 to 59 | Mild to moderate reduction |
| 30 to 44 | Moderate to severe reduction |
| 15 to 29 | Severe reduction |
| Below 15 | Kidney failure |
What affects your result
- Being dehydrated or recently unwell
- Very muscular builds (higher creatinine) or low muscle mass (lower)
- Creatine supplements and high-protein diets
- Medicines such as anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen) and some blood pressure tablets
- Uncontrolled blood pressure or blood sugar over time
Protecting your kidneys
- Keep blood pressure in your target range (often below 130/80). Our blood pressure checker helps you read your numbers.
- Control blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- Avoid regular use of anti-inflammatory pain relievers unless advised.
- Stay hydrated, do not smoke and stay active.
- Ask about medicines that protect the kidneys if you have diabetes or kidney disease.
How we can help
We monitor kidney function as part of chronic care management, review your medicines for kidney safety, and refer to a kidney specialist when needed. A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test is a simple addition we often recommend.
Questions people ask
Is an eGFR of 55 bad?
It shows mildly to moderately reduced kidney function. It needs a repeat test, a urine albumin check and attention to blood pressure and medicines, but many people stay stable for years.
Can drinking more water improve eGFR?
If you were dehydrated, yes. Otherwise drinking extra water does not improve kidney function.
Which pain relievers are kidney-safe?
Acetaminophen is usually preferred. Anti-inflammatories can harm the kidneys, especially with dehydration or certain blood pressure medicines.
Talk it through with Lydia
Questions about your kidney numbers? We will walk you through them. See a board-certified nurse practitioner virtually anywhere in Virginia, in our Woodbridge office, or straight to your front door in much of Northern Virginia.
Visits start at $85, and every membership comes with a 30-day trial.
Prefer to ask first? Text us at (571) 402-2102 or message us on WhatsApp.
