Welcome to the era of CKD and the eGFR

Estimating glomerular filtration rate using a simplified formula will lead to a vast increase in detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the degree of reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is closely linked to the development of complications of CKD, and GFR is the best index for classifying the severity of the disease. In 2002, a US working party produced a five-stage classification of CKD, with guidelines for management according to stage, based largely upon GFR (Box).1 The classification is logical and simple and has enjoyed worldwide endorsement. However, one problem has impeded widespread usage of the classification — most clinicians do not measure or calculate GFR.