Incidence and prevalence of home dialysis

The proportion of patients on home hemodialysis in the United States has declined continuously since 1972 despite an increasing total number of patients treated by dialysis. Regional variations and the experience in Europe are described. The reasons for the changing pattern of dialysis in the United States are discussed, together with possible measures which could help to reverse the present trend of increasing use of more expensive center dialysis which has features making rehabilitation more difficult for many patients.