Comparison of prediction equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease

Aim: We sought to evaluate the applicability of formulae based on serum creatinine (SC) levels in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and methods: Three hundred and twenty‐seven patients with CKD who had undergone ^99mTc‐DTPA glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation were enrolled. The Cockcroft–Gault equation, SC‐reciprocal equation, Gate equation, Hull equation, Jelliffe‐1973 equation, Jelliffe‐1971 equation, Mawer equation, Bjornsson equation, reexpressed 6‐variable MDRD equation and reexpressed 4‐variable MDRD equation were compared. Using the ^99mTc‐DTPA GFR as the standard GFR (sGFR), the accuracy of estimated GFR was compared with sGFR in various stages of CKD. Results: Median per cents of the absolute difference ranged from 28.16% to 39.39%, accuracy with a deviation less than 30% ranging from 39.4% to 53.5%, accuracy with a deviation less than 50% ranging from 63.0% to 80.7%. None of the equations had accuracy up to the 70% level with a deviation less than 30% from sGFR. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated that mean difference ranged from ?2.42 to 16.39 mL/min/1.73 m², whereas precision ranged from 82.66 to 106.15 mL/min/1.73 m². However, the agreement limits of all the equations exceeded the prior acceptable tolerances defined as 60 mL/min/1.73 m². Linear regression showed that the slopes of regression line ranged from 0.37 to 0.54 and intercepts ranged from ?12.10 to 3.86. When the overall performance as well as bias and accuracy were compared in different stages of CKD, GFR estimated by Jelliffe‐1973 equation, Cockcroft–Gault equation and Bjornsson equation showed promising results. Conclusion: When SC was measured by the enzymatic method, GFR estimation equations showed great bias in Chinese CKD patients. At present, the Jelliffe‐1973 equation and Cockcroft–Gault equation may be more accurate in the Chinese ethnic group.