Objective To determine the differences in renal function evaluation with different equations in the Chinese elderly. Methods A total of 111 aged people (60 to 94 years old, 53 males and 58 females) who took physical examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University for 4 consecutive years from March 2008 to March 2012 were recruited in this study. Their baseline data in March 2008 and follow-up data in March 2012 were recorded. Four different equations, CKD-EPIscr-cys, BISscr, BISscr-cys and Cscr-cys, were used to evaluate their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the 2 time points. Results The age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, serum creatinine, and uric acid were significantly higher in the males than in the females (P＜0.001). Their serum urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were all increased in the participants when compared with baseline data (P＜0.001), while serum cystatin C(Cys C) decreased (P＜0.001). Their eGFR assessed by the 4 different formulas were obviously decreased (P＜0.001), but the declines had differences. The eGFR by Cscr-cys equation had the minimal reduction. The declining of eGFR had no significant differences between the male and female participants. Conclusion In the elderly, eGFR is declined with age, but the fall is different when evaluated by different equations. Physicians should be careful in selecting the equations for eGFR for the elderly.