Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hemodialysis (HD) patients through analyzing the HD duration-related data registered in 109 HD units in Beijing area, 2008. Methods Based on the registered HD duration from 7040 cases in these HD units in 2008, we carried out stratified analyses on HD duration according to sex, age, and the age when dialysis was first given (ADF), and primary disease. Results Rank sum test demonstrated that the orders of HD duration were females longer than males, patients of 0-40 years old longer than those of 41-60 years old, and patients of 41-60 years old longer than those of >60 years old. In addition, HD duration correlated with ADF, with the HD duration in patients of 41-60 years old longer than those of 0-40 years old, and the shortest duration in patients >60 years old. In comparison with the data in 2007, the order changes of HD duration in 2008 became significant in the stratification of age, but not in the stratification of ADF. In regard to several primary diseases with larger number of HD patients, diabetes was associated with the shortest HD duration. Conclusion HD duration correlated to gender, age, ADF and primary disease. Factors affecting more patients enrolled in HD treatment or with shorter HD duration were male gender, younger or older ADF, and diabetes.

Key words: Renal dialysis, Time factors, Epidemiology, Sex distribution, Age distribution