Hemodialysis and homelessness: a literature review and a call for research.
As the U.S. population ages, the number of persons with chronic conditions increases. Social isolation, declining health status, unemployment, and/or decreased income levels can all contribute to a forced change in residence. People on hemodialysis who are living in precarious housing situations are an under-recognized and silent population. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a larger population of hemodialysis patients living in various nontraditional situations than the literature reveals. This article describes both the homeless and chronic renal disease populations and demographic overlay, and issues a call for research.
Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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Wellington
D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology