Influence of age and gender variations on glomerular filtration rate estimated by the MCQE formula.

Background: In clinical practice, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is routinely estimated by the creatinine-based equation developed and validated from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study. However, since this formula estimates the rate of decline in GFR, the Mayo Clinic Quadratic Equation (MCQE) has been developed. Petients and methods: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of age and gender variations on GFR estimated by this new equation. Results of 16,631 serum creatinine tests performed in consecutive out patients were retrieved from the data base of our Laboratory Information System. GFR was estimated by both the MDRD and MCQE formulas. Results: The difference in the estimated GFR between males and females was significantly different when calculated with either MDRD or MCQE formula. Significant gender differences were observed in all age decades by MCQE and in subjects aged > 51 years by MDRD. A significant difference in the mean GFR values estimated by either formula was also observed between different age decades in both genders. Conclusions: The results of this epidemiologic alanalysis indicated the MCQE formula also fail to compensate for age and gender variations.