Urea

Useful for

Mainly useful as an addition to creatinine and eGFR, for example with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, dehydration or medicines that put strain on the kidneys. In strength athletes and with the use of testosterone or anabolic substances, urea is often measured together with creatinine; a protein-rich diet then makes the value harder to interpret. In healthy adults without symptoms or risk factors, the chance of reduced kidney function is small, and urea alone adds little to creatinine and eGFR.

How common is it?

There is no Dutch figure for how often an abnormal urea occurs. According to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG), chronic kidney damage, in which urea eventually rises, occurs in about 1 in 10 adults and more often at older age. A slightly raised urea due to drinking little or protein-rich food is much more common than kidney damage.

The NHG guideline on chronic kidney damage; the NVKC, allesovertesten.nl

Drawbacks and risks

• A slightly raised urea due to protein-rich food or drinking too little can cause unfounded worry about the kidneys.