Mums blood test results -kidney function abnormal

[Shatteredandhormonal]

Mum is 78 and has been suffering from a really bad mental health crisis. She has been taking Mirtazapine and Sertraline for last 5 weeks. Her psychiatrist wanted to get her sodium results checked as the meds could alter her levels. GP surgery called today to ask her to repeat bloods again as results are abnormal. This has sent her into absolute panic. It looks like her kidney function is abnormal. Her dad died of kidney failure so she is literally shaking and unable to calm down despite the meds. Here are her results Urea and electrolytes
Serum sodium level 136 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]
Serum potassium level 5.2 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]
Serum creatinine level 98 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0]; Above high reference limit
eGFR using creatinine (CKD-EPI) per 1.73 square metres 48 mL/min [> 60.0]; eGFR has been calculated using the CKD-EPI creatinine equation. Pleas
e note that adjustment for race is no longer recommended by NICE.(NICE
Guidance NG 203); Below low reference limit

She is having another blood test taken this week. Her blood test 18 months ago had a eGFR reading of 59. Does this look like her kidneys are starting to fail? I’m so worried .

Having been through this recently with a elderly family member one result doesn’t mean a diagnosis of anything. Repeat bloods will determine next steps, my relative had normal results after a repeat blood.

From my none medical knowledge and research at the time creatinine is slightly elevated, egfr of 48 shows mild reduction in kidney filtration. Other results seem normal.

Results like these can be caused by dehydration, they usually look for declining results over a 3 month period.

it’s tricky if someone is feeling anxious and hopefully you’ll get the results from the repeat bloods quickly

Some decline in kidney function is expected with advanced age. At 78 her results may not be worrisome.

One result on it's own means very little. All those results would be very normal for a 78 year old.

The key message is that the bloods were only done to check her sodium was alright. Which it is.

Even if on the repeat test her eGFR is still 48, that's incredibly respectable for someone who is 78.

Your function declines as you age and 10% of the population has kidney disease. Her function is still excellent and will likely continue to be so. Only 2% of those 10% ever go into failure. Biggest thing it to stay hydrated, avoid lots of salt, keep a good blood pressure and eat relatively healthily but you don’t need to do anything extreme! Don’t worry at all :)