There were 3.5% more new ESRD patients in 2009 than in 2008, according to the 2011 United States Renal Data System report. Some of this rise in cases is due to overall population growth, and the USRDS tells us to view the increase in ESRD patients tentatively.

As the ESRD population grows, so do disparities in care among races. Early intervention, especially among those at risk for diabetes and hypertension is a viable solution. The USRDS gives us clear data on geographic locations particularly vulnerable to racial disparities, which should be good targets for intervention efforts. Younger people, too, are increasingly susceptible to ESRD. As diabetes and hypertension rates continue to rise across the country, this group will most likely also grow.

Here are some statistics about the growing ESRD population from the annual report:

• There were 116,395 new cases of ESRD reported in 2009, 3.5% more than in 2008, and the largest increase since 2000.

• 106,000 dialysis patients started ESRD treatment on hemodialysis, and 7,094 started on peritoneal dialysis.

• The rate of new ESRD cases per million population has been relatively stable since 2000, and rose just 1.1% in 2009, to 355.

• Since 2000, the adjusted incident rate of ESRD has grown 12% for patients 75 and older, to 1,762 per million population in 2009. Rates for those 19 and younger have increased 9.6% to 15.5. Rates for 20 to 44 year olds have increased 9.8% to 131. Rates for patients age 45 to 64 and 65 to 74 are now the same as in 2000, at 610 and 1,407.

• According to Dec. 31, 2009 data, the total treated ESRD population rose above 570,000, including 370,274 patients on hemodialysis, 27,522 on peritoneal dialysis, and 172,553 with a functioning kidney transplant. The rate of prevalent ESRD cases reached 1,738 per million population, an increase of 2.1% from 2008, and consistent with a similar rise per year since 2002.

• By primary diagnosis, the adjusted rate of new ESRD cases due to diabetes increased 0.5% in 2009, to 154.1 per million population. The rate of ESRD due to hypertension has grown 8.7% since 2000, to 101, while that of ESRD due to glomerulonephritis has fallen 23% to 23.8.

• The ESRD rate in African Americans were 3.5 times greater than in whites.

• The ESRD rate in Native Americans were 1.9 times greater than the rate among whites, and

• The ESRD rate in the Hispanic population was 1.5 times higher than that of non-Hispanics.

• The highest adjusted ESRD rates occurred in the Ohio Valley, portions of Texas and California, and the Southwestern United States.

• The rate for incident dialysis patients varied between Networks, from 236 in Network 16 (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)  to 421 in Network 8( Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee). The overall rate is 348 per million.

• The distribution of patients by race varies widely across the country. African Americans make up just 6.4% of the new dialysis population in Network 16, but 49 to 55% of patients in Networks 6 (Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) and 8.