Abstract: Objective It is still a controversial issue about the optimal time of initiation of dialysis for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The aim of this study was to examine the trend of the time at which dialysis initiated for ESRD patients in recent years in Beijing area. Methods The data of all patients were obtained from the annual report of Beijing Blood Purification Quality Control and Improvement Center (BJBPQCIC) registry database. The patients who initiated hemodialysis between 2007 and 2012 were enrolled. Those who did not have the result of serum creatinine in the 90 days before or after dialysis initiation were excluded.
eGFR was calculated by the CKD-EPI formula. Patients were stratified into three groups, group 1 [(eGFR 0～4.9 ml/(min•1.73m2)], group 2 [eGFR 5.0～9.9 ml/(min•1.73m2)] and group 3 [(eGFR: >10 ml/ (min•1.73m2)]. Results A total of 7,200 patients met the inclusion criteria, with the age of 57.5±16.0 years old and 56.3% males. During the period between 2007 and 2012, 341, 682, 1,137, 1,577, 1,886 and 1,577 patients initiated hemodialysis annually. From 2007 to 2010, the group 3 percentage gradually increased to 20.7%, and then decreased to 15.6% in 2012. The peak of group 2 percentage was 52.8% in 2012. About half
of the patients started dialysis with the eGFR of 5-10 ml/(min•1.73m2), and one third with the eGFR of <5 ml/ min/1.73m2 in every year. The group 1 and 2 percentage was higher than that in the United States. Conclusion The number of ESRD patients increased in Beijing in recent years. The timing of dialysis initiation in ESRD patients in Beijing was later than that in the United States.

Key words: Initiation of dialysis, Hemodialysis, Glomerular filtration rate