Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the timing of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the survival of end stage renal disease patients. Methods We studied the patients diagnosed as uremia and treated with PD in our hospital from January 1st, 2004 to 31st December, 2011. They were divided into early group and late group based on estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated by MDRD formulation. We then analyzed the differences in demographic and laboratory data and compared the survival rate between the two groups. Results This study consisted of 177 patients with the median eGFR of 6.5 ml/min· (1.73m2). Eightfive patients were in the early group with a mean eGFR of 8.77±3.44 ml/min· (1.73m2), and 92 patients in the late group with a mean eGFR of 5.54±1.35 ml/min· (1.73m2). Differences between the two groups were found in serum creatinine (t= -10.270，P＜0.01), BUN (t=-2.910，P＜0.01), eGFR (t=10.050，P＜0.01), diabetic nephropathy (χ2=7.540，P＜0.05), and diabetes comorbidity (χ2=2.600，P＜0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (χ2=0.360，P=0.191). Conclusion There was no relationship between the timing of PD and the survival of end stage renal disease patients.

Key words: Peritoneal dialysis, Timing of dialysis, Survival rate