title: The present status of and perspectives on home hemodialysis therapy in Japan.
abstract: Home hemodialysis (HHD) is one of the best choices for improving the quality of life and survival rate of dialysis patients because it can lead to longer and more frequent dialysis programs to aid in achieving adequate dialysis. There were 461 dialysis patients treated with HHD as of the end of 2013 in Japan, comprising only 0.1% of all dialysis patients in this country. Although this is a very small expansion rate, the number of HHD patients has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The Japanese Society for Home Hemodialysis was established in 1998 and formed the following 3 working groups to survey various problems underlying current HHD: Patient Registry, Supply and Waste, and Self-pay Burden. In order to achieve a successful HHD program in Japan, there are several issues to be resolved, including the development of standard recruitment and education programs, optimization of the composition of dialysis fluid, sufficient reimbursement for HHD, and the establishment of a business model for HHD similar to that for peritoneal dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Yabuki Shima Clinic, Yamagata, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuto
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masakane
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanafusa
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D006437:Hemodialysis, Home / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal