Presidential Address

I am pleased to announce that the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy will be held from June 7 (Fri.) to 9 (Sun.), 2024, at Pacifico Yokohama. This Annual Meeting is a yearly venue for numerous medical professionals, researchers, and company representatives working in the field of dialysis medicine both in Japan and internationally to gather together and engage in lively debate and exchanges of views. It also offers the opportunity to gather the latest information and knowledge in dialysis treatment and medicine from various countries. It is a great honor to have been appointed President of such an important Annual Meeting, and I am conscious of the weight of the responsibility.

The rate of increase in the number of dialysis patients began to slow down in 2017, and the number of chronic dialysis patients ceased increasing in 2020. At the same time, the prevalence of dialysis patients per million population has been on the rise year after year, and by 2021, 1 in 358.9 people in Japan will be on dialysis. The excellent survival rate that has been achieved under these circumstances is a blessing that we owe to the tremendous accomplishments of dialysis therapists, and we should be proud of the capabilities of our multidisciplinary medical care professionals, who combated COVID 19 in dialysis patients on the front lines.

The theme of this Annual Meeting will be “Advancement of Renal Replacement Therapy: Toward the Next Generation of Interprofessional Academism.” I would probably translate the Japanese phrase “チーム医療の叡智(team iryo no eichi)” into English as “interprofessional academism.” Medical teams should take the lead in renal replacement medicine through all dialysis treatments conducted at patients’ homes or at medical facilities, as well as all kidney transplantations, and should support lifelong medical care for kidney disease in a limitless and comfortable manner.

Ever since the success of Dr. Kolff’s hemodialysis machine in 1945, dialysis treatment has become a life-saving measure for patients suffering from kidney failure, making it one of the most revolutionary treatments of the century. The mission––both now and in the future––is to achieve well-being by saving patients from complications, overcoming complications, and improving quality of life.

Dialysis treatment is approaching a crossroads as we become the world’s most aged society. We must do our utmost to continue scientific exploration into dialysis treatment and to ensure that patients have universal access to treatment in medical settings through high-quality multidisciplinary care. We will continue to prevent exacerbation of chronic kidney disease through renal replacement therapy and work to establish lifelong care for kidney disease.

Please submit your abstracts, and I hope that we have a fruitful and enthusiastic exchange of opinions in Yokohama in 2024. Thank you for your support.