Which two equations are commonly used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and list factors that influence their accuracy?

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Estimating GFR relies on creatinine-based equations that translate a serum creatinine value into an eGFR by accounting for differences in creatinine production and renal clearance. In adults, the two most commonly used equations are MDRD and CKD-EPI; they were developed from large patient populations and are standard tools for CKD staging and management. Their accuracy, however, is influenced by several factors beyond the creatinine measurement itself: age, sex, race, and body size (which relate to muscle mass and creatinine generation); diet and muscle mass changes; and the assumption of stable kidney function—rapid changes in renal function can render eGFR estimates unreliable. In children, the Schwartz equation is used instead of these adult formulas, and there is no widely accepted Crocker-Mann equation for eGFR. The accuracy of eGFR is not determined solely by the creatinine assay method or by hydration status alone, and race coefficients are indeed part of how these adult equations adjust the estimate.