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.