GFR and Apixaban

[Alan_G]

I've recently become more aware of my GFR (kidney function) score. As I'm on apixaban I have a blood test every year. I've been told my kidney function is okay, but this time I was sent the blood test results as I was asking questions about them as I wanted to see my cholesterol scores as well. I saw my GFR score was 70. Googling it, I found that anything above 60 is okay, but once you go below that you are entering 'kidney trouble' territory. I'm not sure how quickly this comes down. I've been on apixaban for 5 years now. I don't know what it was before I went onto apixaban but I do know that it does decline naturally with age anyway. I'm 70 now.

Is GFR a concern to people on here or have any of you looked into the relationship between GFR and anti-coagulants?

thanks

[Jalia]

I have to keep a watch on my GFR. There is nothing to worry about with a 70 score. I'm on warfarin and have been for almost 20 years. It hasn't made any difference to my readings as far as I know.

[BobD Volunteer]

At your age and score I would be happy and move on .

[jwsonoma]

Hey Alan, I would try to get your historical test results. The trend is more important than a single isolated result. Even year over year is better than nothing. Your result could be stable or natural. Raise your concerns with your Doc..

[DevonHubby1]

If your surgery supports online access to your patient records then you should be able to see your historical test results via either the Web or the NHS App on your phone.

[Ducky2003]

I'd be ecstatic if I were your age with a GFR of 70.

[Auriculaire in reply to Ducky2003]

I am 70 and my last GFR taken last year was 98! It had actually gone up from the previous couple of years of mid 80s which I find a bit odd.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Auriculaire]

That's bloomin marvellous! Good on ya!

[Alan_G in reply to Ducky2003]

Yes, but it's not that far above 60 at which point I think you enter Stage 3 of CKD. I'd be happier if I was up up in the 80s or even 90s

[Ducky2003 in reply to Alan_G]

Depends how quickly it is declining, which obviously previous blood tests should show so worth asking your GP.

[Alan_G in reply to Auriculaire]

I've read it's only an estimate though. To get the real score is apparently more complicated and expensive than a simple blood test. I'll ask my GP about it and see what he says.

t.

[Auriculaire in reply to Alan_G]

My husband's has hovered round 70 for years. He is 78 .Doc has never said anything was wrong. He did tell me years ago that most of these norms on the tests don't apply as much to old people as it all goes downhill as we age! A young person with a GFR of 70 would be a concern as with age it might well drop below 60.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Alan_G]

Yes. The most accurate test is a nuclear medicine GFR test which is really long winded and quite painful. They inject a radioactive tracer into you and you have to keep having repeated blood tests, every half hour or so, to check how the tracer moves through you. The repeated blood tests make for painful arms.I would think it highly unlikely they would do this procedure for someone with a GFR of 70.

Mine was showing about 47 with a normal blood test (aged in my 40s) which is why I ended up with a kidney biopsy and this nuclear test.

That showed my GRF to be 65, which although lowish for my age, they were not concerned about.

[BlueINR]

I have taken warfarin for 13 years and eGFR has always been normal. Anything about 60, >60 is usually shown on lab reports, is normal.

[Swimsyroke]

I am 76 and I was worried about my low GFR score but when I look back at previous blood tests it has varied from 75 in 2021 to 60 in May 22 then 65 in July 22. I hardly drink, have always drunk plenty of water, have plenty of exercise and am slightly below normal weight so I would have thought I should have healthier kidneys than that. Does anyone have a take on what life situations can cause a low reading.