Kidney Health Tracking: eGFR and Creatinine Over Time
How Healthbase helps you track kidney function markers like eGFR and creatinine to catch changes early and monitor long-term kidney health.
Kidney function declines naturally with age, but that decline can accelerate due to medications, conditions like diabetes or hypertension, or other factors. Since kidney disease often has no symptoms until it's advanced, tracking kidney function over time is the only way to catch problems early.
Healthbase helps you monitor the biomarkers that matter for kidney health.
Why Kidney Tracking Matters
Your kidneys filter waste from your blood, balance fluids, and regulate blood pressure. When they're functioning well, you don't notice them. When function declines significantly, the consequences are serious.
The challenge is that kidney function can deteriorate substantially before you feel anything wrong. By the time symptoms appear, significant damage may have occurred.
Regular monitoring catches decline early, when lifestyle changes or medical intervention can slow or stop progression.
Key Kidney Biomarkers
eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
eGFR is the primary measure of kidney function. It estimates how well your kidneys are filtering blood.
| eGFR Level | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 90+ | Normal or high |
| 60-89 | Mildly decreased |
| 45-59 | Mild to moderate decrease |
| 30-44 | Moderate to severe decrease |
| 15-29 | Severely decreased |
| <15 | Kidney failure |
Normal kidney function declines about 1 mL/min/year after age 40. Faster decline warrants investigation.
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from muscle metabolism. Your kidneys filter it out; when kidney function decreases, creatinine levels rise.
Creatinine is used to calculate eGFR. Tracking it directly can also be informative, especially for understanding what's driving eGFR changes.
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Another waste product filtered by kidneys. Often measured alongside creatinine. The BUN/creatinine ratio can provide additional diagnostic information.
Urine Albumin (or Urine Protein)
Protein in urine indicates kidney damage, sometimes before eGFR declines. If you're at risk for kidney disease, urine tests are important to track alongside blood tests.
Who Should Track Kidney Function
Everyone Over 40
Kidney function naturally declines with age. Annual monitoring helps you understand your personal trajectory.
People With Diabetes
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. If you have diabetes, kidney monitoring is essential.
People With Hypertension
High blood pressure damages kidneys over time. Regular monitoring catches this early.
People on Certain Medications
Some medications — including common ones like NSAIDs, certain blood pressure medications, and some antibiotics — can affect kidney function. If you take these regularly, monitoring is prudent.
People With a Family History
If kidney disease runs in your family, you're at higher risk and should monitor more closely.
What Healthbase Does
Track All Kidney Markers
Upload lab results from any provider. Healthbase extracts and organizes all kidney-relevant markers: eGFR, creatinine, BUN, and any urine tests you've had.
See Trends Over Time
One eGFR result tells you your kidney function right now. Years of results show whether function is stable, declining normally for age, or declining faster than expected.
This trend is what matters. A slow, steady decline might be normal aging. An accelerating decline needs investigation.
Correlate With Other Factors
Kidney function relates to blood pressure, blood sugar, medications, and other factors. Seeing everything together helps identify what might be affecting your kidneys.
Prepare for Nephrology Appointments
If you see a nephrologist (kidney specialist), generate a summary of your kidney function over time. They see where you are now and how you got there.
Tracking in Practice
Annual Monitoring
For most people, annual kidney function testing is appropriate. Request eGFR/creatinine as part of your regular bloodwork.
More Frequent for At-Risk
If you have diabetes, hypertension, or known kidney issues, more frequent monitoring (every 3-6 months) may be appropriate.
After Medication Changes
If you start a medication that might affect kidneys, check function before starting and after a few weeks.
Watch the Trend
Don't fixate on individual numbers. Watch how values change over time. A temporary blip might mean nothing. A consistent trend matters.
Early Action Matters
If kidney function is declining faster than expected, early action can slow or stop progression. Lifestyle changes (blood pressure control, blood sugar management, dietary modifications) and medication adjustments can make a significant difference — but only if the problem is caught early.
By the time someone feels kidney disease symptoms, options are more limited. Tracking is how you stay ahead of the problem.
Your kidneys work silently. Tracking kidney function gives you visibility into their health before problems become serious.
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