Socioeconomic Disparities in Dialysis Prevalence: A National Analysis Using NHANES 2008–2023 Data

This study analyzed nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2008 to 2023 to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and dialysis use among U.S. adults. Using survey-weighted logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, the analysis found that individuals in higher income-to-poverty ratio categories had significantly lower odds of requiring dialysis compared to those living below the poverty line. Specifically, those with income-to-poverty ratios between 3 and 5 showed a 3.3 log-odds reduction (p=0.045), and those above 5 had an 18.4 log-odds reduction (p<0.001) in dialysis prevalence. These findings underscore significant socioeconomic disparities in kidney failure treatment and call for targeted public health policies to address social determinants that contribute to disease progression and limited access to care.