ESRD: Scope of the Problem

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing rapidly. This year, more than two million people all over the world will be receiving treatment for kidney failure in the form of dialysis or kidney transplantation to stay alive. Although renal failure is a global disease, the majority of patients receiving life-saving treatment reside in the western hemisphere and specifically in the United States. The need for dialysis access placement and maintenance, therefore is a hugely understated enterprise. Here we contextualize the geographic scope of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and describe the trends in incidence and prevalence of ESRD in the US and rest of the world. Additionally, we report on the increasing economic burden of ESRD and dialysis access maintenance and underline the need for innovation in techniques for dialysis access.