Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas

<b>Background</b>: The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a universal clinical measure central to assessing kidney function and to the management of kidney disorders. Several formulas for the estimation of GFR are in use. The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) formula has been r...

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Main Authors: Evelyn O. Ilori, Casey R. Cai, Fatou Sahor, Brianna Wilson, Tanooha Veeramachaneni, Samir M. Parikh, Ibrahim A. Hashim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/8/1047
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author Evelyn O. Ilori
Casey R. Cai
Fatou Sahor
Brianna Wilson
Tanooha Veeramachaneni
Samir M. Parikh
Ibrahim A. Hashim
author_facet Evelyn O. Ilori
Casey R. Cai
Fatou Sahor
Brianna Wilson
Tanooha Veeramachaneni
Samir M. Parikh
Ibrahim A. Hashim
author_sort Evelyn O. Ilori
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a universal clinical measure central to assessing kidney function and to the management of kidney disorders. Several formulas for the estimation of GFR are in use. The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) formula has been reported to more accurately estimate the GFR as compared to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula and its recent version (REFIT equation) in European and African populations. However, validation of the EKFC equation in diverse U.S. populations, especially the Black subpopulation, is needed. <b>Methods</b>: Data from the electronic medical records of 75,442 individuals presenting to a large safety net county hospital with measurements of serum creatinine and/or iohexol clearance studies were used to calculate the estimated GFR (eGFR) and to determine CKD stage using the various reported eGFR formulas. The correlation between eGFR and measured GFR was determined for each equation. <b>Results</b>: The median eGFR for Black participants using the CKD-EPI, REFIT, and EKFC formulas was 130.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, 82.0 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and 80.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> (<i>p</i> < 0.001), respectively. For White participants, the median eGFR using the CKD-EPI, REFIT, and EKFC formulas was 145.3 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, 105.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and 99.2 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The REFIT equation underestimates the mGFR in Black individuals at eGFR < 80 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> and in White individuals at eGFR > 20 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>. In comparison, the EKFC equation underestimates the mGFR at eGFR > 20 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> in both Black and White individuals. The REFIT equation had the least absolute median bias as compared to EKFC and CKD-EPI in both Black and White participants (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). The P30 of the REFIT and EKFC equations was not statistically different for either Black or White participants (<i>p</i> = 0.16, <i>p</i> = 0.37). <b>Conclusions</b>: Although the accuracies (P30) of the EKFC and REFIT equations are not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.16 and 0.37, Black and White individuals, respectively), adopting the EKFC formula in Americans requires the evaluation of each subpopulation. Both the EKFC and REFIT formulas underestimate the mGFR at a lower eGFR, which may have a direct impact on CKD classification for Black and White patients, with potentially significant implications for clinical management.
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spelling doaj-art-e00c3d34998b431e829e7d57b9fb004f2025-08-20T03:13:54ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-04-01158104710.3390/diagnostics15081047Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) FormulasEvelyn O. Ilori0Casey R. Cai1Fatou Sahor2Brianna Wilson3Tanooha Veeramachaneni4Samir M. Parikh5Ibrahim A. Hashim6Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USADepartment of Pathology, Parkland Health, Dallas, TX 75235, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USADepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA<b>Background</b>: The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a universal clinical measure central to assessing kidney function and to the management of kidney disorders. Several formulas for the estimation of GFR are in use. The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) formula has been reported to more accurately estimate the GFR as compared to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula and its recent version (REFIT equation) in European and African populations. However, validation of the EKFC equation in diverse U.S. populations, especially the Black subpopulation, is needed. <b>Methods</b>: Data from the electronic medical records of 75,442 individuals presenting to a large safety net county hospital with measurements of serum creatinine and/or iohexol clearance studies were used to calculate the estimated GFR (eGFR) and to determine CKD stage using the various reported eGFR formulas. The correlation between eGFR and measured GFR was determined for each equation. <b>Results</b>: The median eGFR for Black participants using the CKD-EPI, REFIT, and EKFC formulas was 130.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, 82.0 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and 80.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> (<i>p</i> < 0.001), respectively. For White participants, the median eGFR using the CKD-EPI, REFIT, and EKFC formulas was 145.3 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, 105.6 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and 99.2 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The REFIT equation underestimates the mGFR in Black individuals at eGFR < 80 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> and in White individuals at eGFR > 20 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>. In comparison, the EKFC equation underestimates the mGFR at eGFR > 20 mL/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> in both Black and White individuals. The REFIT equation had the least absolute median bias as compared to EKFC and CKD-EPI in both Black and White participants (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). The P30 of the REFIT and EKFC equations was not statistically different for either Black or White participants (<i>p</i> = 0.16, <i>p</i> = 0.37). <b>Conclusions</b>: Although the accuracies (P30) of the EKFC and REFIT equations are not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.16 and 0.37, Black and White individuals, respectively), adopting the EKFC formula in Americans requires the evaluation of each subpopulation. Both the EKFC and REFIT formulas underestimate the mGFR at a lower eGFR, which may have a direct impact on CKD classification for Black and White patients, with potentially significant implications for clinical management.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/8/1047eGFRraceCKD-EPIREFITEKFCchronic kidney disease
spellingShingle Evelyn O. Ilori
Casey R. Cai
Fatou Sahor
Brianna Wilson
Tanooha Veeramachaneni
Samir M. Parikh
Ibrahim A. Hashim
Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
Diagnostics
eGFR
race
CKD-EPI
REFIT
EKFC
chronic kidney disease
title Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
title_full Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
title_fullStr Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
title_full_unstemmed Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
title_short Performance of the 2021 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate CKD-EPI Refit and the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) Formulas
title_sort performance of the 2021 estimated glomerular filtration rate ckd epi refit and the european kidney function consortium ekfc formulas
topic eGFR
race
CKD-EPI
REFIT
EKFC
chronic kidney disease
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/8/1047
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