Estimating glomerular filtration rate: comparison of the CKD-EPI and MDRD equations in a large UK cohort with particular emphasis on the effect of age

BACKGROUND: The chronic kidney disease (CKD)-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was developed to address the underestimation of measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation at levels >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). AIM: To assess the impact of the CKD-EPI equation on the estimation of GFR in a large adult UK population (n = 561,400), particularly looking at the effect of age. DESIGN: Serum creatinine results (ID-MS-aligned enzymatic assay) were extracted from the pathology database during 1 year on adult (≥ 18 years) patients from primary care. METHODS: The first available creatinine result from 174,448 people was used to estimate GFR using both equations and agreement assessed. RESULTS: Median CKD-EPI GFR was significantly higher than median MDRD GFR (82 vs. 76 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P < 0.0001). Overall mean bias between CKD-EPI and MDRD GFR was 5.0%, ranging from 13.0% in the 18-29 years age group down to -7.5% in those aged ≥ 90 years. Although statistically significant at all age groups the difference diminished with age and the agreement in GFR category assignment increased. Age-adjusted population prevalence of CKD Stages 3-5 was lower by CKD-EPI than by MDRD (4.4% vs. 4.9%). CONCLUSION: CKD-EPI produces higher GFR and lower CKD estimates, particularly among 18-59 year age groups with MDRD estimated GFRs of 45-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (Stage 3A). However, at ages >70 years there is very little difference between the equations, and among the very elderly CKD-EPI may actually increase CKD prevalence estimates.