Using end-stage renal disease facility surveys to monitor end-stage renal disease program trends. The Data Committee of the National Forum of End-Stage Renal Disease Networks
Since 1982, the Forum of End-Stage Renal Disease Networks has used data
from the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Facility surveys to track
regional and national end-stage renal disease (ESRD) program trends. This
article reports trends for selected program parameters during the years
1980 through 1983. Trends include an average annual increase of 11.1% in
the number of chronic dialysis patients; a 78% rise in the number of home
dialysis patients; a relatively constant percentage (7.2% to 7.7%) of
dialysis patients receiving a transplant annually; and relatively stable
dialysis patient mortality (annual case fatality rate, 14.9% to 15.4%). The
utility of such data for quality assurance as well as program evaluation
and planning is noted. The article also indicates how improved tracking of
transplant recipients and organ procurement activity would strengthen the
End-Stage Renal Disease Facility Survey data base.