| [ Summary ] |
As late as the end of December 2006, the number of home hemodialysis (HHD) patients in Japan was extremely low (147 patients), just 0.056 % of all hemodialysis patients. This illustrates the slow acceptance of HHD. If we consider that the 1970s, which were still the dawning years of hemodialysis treatment in Japan, were the real beginning of HHD here, we see how very slow this spread has been. Reasons for this include problems inherent to HHD, such as the need for an assistant, patients' sell-management ability, self-centesis, and initial training. Another factor impeding the spread of HHD is that the national health insurance point available for HHD is low. However, HHD provides a high level of freedom which makes both prolonged hemodialysis and frequent short-term hemodialysis possible. The vital prognosis for these patients is good, and rates of social reintegration are high. HHD has a significant role to perform today, when there is an increasing number of patients who are receiving hemodialysis and have been for over 30 years, and since a higher QOL is demanded. This article reviews the advances in managing problems with HHD and its future. |