Original Article Trends in incidence of end-stage renal disease in Japan, 1983–2000: age-adjusted and age-specific rates by gender and cause

Background. Trends in age-adjusted or age-specific incidence rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have never been examined in Japan, a major ESRD epidemic area. Methods. A nationwide registry has provided the number of ESRD patients commencing maintenance renal replacement therapy for time period from 1983 to 2000. We computed gender- and age-specific incidence rates of ESRD over 2-year periods, in total or by cause. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated using the 1985 Model Population of Japan as the standard