New findings from the AIM CKD UK study presented at UK Kidney Week 2026 indicate that common creatinine-based equations used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may significantly misjudge kidney function. This could lead to delayed diagnoses and treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in specific ethnic groups.
The multi-center analysis compared five leading eGFR equations against measured GFR (mGFR) in a large, diverse UK cohort. Researchers found that all evaluated equations systematically overestimated kidney function. The Lund-Malmö Revised (LMR) equation performed best, exhibiting the lowest bias and highest accuracy. The EKFC equation also showed strong results.
Performance varied dramatically across ethnic groups. While LMR and EKFC performed well for White participants, accuracy was notably lower for CKD-EPI-2009 and CKD-EPI-2021. Black participants also saw EKFC and LMR as the top performers. South Asian participants experienced the poorest accuracy, with CKD-EPI-2021 significantly overestimating kidney function.
Equation choice also impacted clinical classification and treatment eligibility, potentially delaying access to therapies like Dapagliflozin for up to half of patients. The study suggests that continued reliance on CKD-EPI equations may underestimate CKD severity and create healthcare inequities. Adopting LMR or EKFC equations could improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment access for diverse populations.