Q: I am 27 years old and have a creatinine level of 1.1. My weight is 87 kgs. I wanted to know if my glomerular filtration rate is less or it is fine? Is their any intervention required?

A:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is indeed an unrecognised problem in India with a potential to acquire an epidemic proportion. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is accepted as a best overall measure of one’s kidney function both in healthy and diseased state. GFR is estimated from a prediction equation that takes into account not only the serum creatinine but also some other variables that include age, gender, race and body size. CKD can be staged from Stage 1 to 5 based on an estimated GFR value with stage 5 reflecting a low GFR, associated with advanced kidney disease. Studies from the sub-continent have shown that the normal GFR value for a healthy Indian adult appears to be much lower than that accepted for a western population. The mean GFR value of a young healthy Indian adult is 81.4 ± 19.4 ml/min/1.73 m2 body surface area, which is significantly different from the normal value of 109-125 ml/min for a western population. CKD could also be diagnosed in someone who may have normal GFR value but have kidney damage for at least 3 months reflected by its markers including abnormalities in the composition of urine or an abnormal renal imaging test. Based on the information you provided, your approximate estimated GFR is 85 ml/min/body surface area which would be considered within the normal range. Moreover, if you do not have the risk factors for CKD namely, a history of diabetes, hypertension or a family history of either of these, you should not be required to undertake any intervention.