Glomerular filtration rate as an indicator of renal damage in patients treated at the Ponvelab Clinical Laboratory

Abstract

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measures the volume of blood filtered per minute by the renal glomeruli and is a key indicator for identifying and staging kidney damage that compromises overall physiological function. This study aimed to determine the GFR as an indicator of renal damage in patients treated at the Ponvelab Clinical Laboratory. A quantitative, observational, analytical, cross-sectional, retrospective, non-experimental study design was employed. The research was classified as minimal risk and utilized non-probability convenience sampling within a finite population of 150 patients. Data were obtained from clinical records and analyzed to assess variations in GFR and creatinine levels according to sex and age. The results showed that elevated creatinine levels were more prevalent among female patients (60.7%) compared to males (39.3%), whereas decreased creatinine levels predominated in males (66.7%) over females (33.3%). Regarding GFR, a slight decrease was observed more frequently in women (57.9%) than in men (42.1%). Age-related analysis revealed that patients aged 18–27 years predominantly exhibited normal renal function or mild insufficiency (2.7%), while those aged 68–77 years showed up to moderate renal insufficiency (24.7%), indicating progressive deterioration of kidney function with advancing age. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between reduced GFR values and advanced stages of kidney damage, in accordance with World Health Organization criteria (p < 0.001). In conclusion, GFR proved to be an effective indicator of renal damage, with greater impairment observed among women and older adults, underscoring the importance of early detection and timely preventive interventions.