However, we do have some good news to report about ESRD. Recently there has been a leveling off in the rate of new cases of ESRD. The green bars in this graph represent the rate of ESRD per million people in the U.S. The blue lines represent the percent change in ESRD from the previous year.

The leveling of ESRD rates has occurred despite demographic factors -- such as increased diabetes and aging of the population -- that would tend to increase rates of ESRD.

Rates adjusted for age, gender, & race. US Renal Data System 2005 Annual Report.