Abstract: Objective To investigate the time of beginning dialysis and the influence factors on hemodialysis in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients in Tibet region. Methods A total of 116 CRF patients treated in hemodialysis center of the Second People’s Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region from August, 1997 to December, 2008 were surveyed. The patients were divided into group A (from August 1, 1997 to December 30, 2005), and group B (from January 1, 2006 to December 30, 2008). Renal function at the beginning of dialysis represented by estimated GFR (eGFR), symptoms of uremia, complications, and the patients’ status at the first dialysis were analyzed to understand the disease period when dialysis began and the influence factors on the period in CRF patients in Tibet region. Result (a) In patients in Tibet region, the eGFR was 2.75±1.4ml/min/1.73m2 in CRF patients at the beginning of dialysis, of whom 95.6% were at the very late stage of the disease. (b) There were no significant differences in uremia symptoms, and number of complications, discharge from hospital only by patients’ decision, death and transplantation between the two groups, but the number of persistence in dialysis was higher in group B than in group A (P＜0.001). (c) Compared the patients on dialysis in Tibet region with those in the east part of China, glomerulonephritis as the primary disease was lower in Tibet region (38.7% vs. 59.7%, P＜0.01), secondary renal diseases leading to dialysis were higher in Tibet region (35.4% vs. 22.6%, P＜0.001), and eGFR level at the first dialysis was significantly lower in Tibet region (P＜0.001). Conclusion In the recent 10 years, the disease period at which dialysis began was still too late in most CRF patients in Tibet region. The influence factors on the delayed treatment included health education, disease screening and healthcare.

Key words: Chronic renal failure, Hemodialysis, Timing of dialysis