| [ Summary ] |
As of the end of 2002, the average dialysis time for the 160,624 hemodialysis patients undergoing dialysis at treatment facilities three times a week was 3.97±0.62 (±S.D.) hours. Since 1991, the dialysis time for hemodialysis patients at such facilities has heen gradually shortened. Although home dialysis patients are admittedly fewer in number, their dialysis time was found to be 0.5 hours longer than for their counterparts undergoing dialysis at treatment centers. Dialysis time was longer for hemodialysis patients undergoing Monday-Wednesday-Friday treatment at centers ; moreover, their first and second dialysis weekly treatments were longer than the third. The mortality risk is high for hemodialysis patients receiving treatment three times a week at treatment facilities whose dialysis time is less than four hours per session. |