Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the causes of discontinuing hemodialysis therapy and the factors relating to their survival rate and living quality in patients with maintenance hemodialyis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 235 maintenance hemodialysis patients in this hospital during the period from Jan. 2002 through Jan. 2007. Results In these patients, 125 cases (53.19%) discontinued hemodialysis therapy, of which the main causes were death (38.40%), renal transplantation (21.60%) and economic problems (20.80%). The main cause of death was cerebrovascular diseases (31.25%), which were resulted from nephropathic hypertension in 80.0% of these death cases. The next cause of death was cardiovascular diseases (25.0%), which were the end stage of diabetic nephropathy in 75.0% of these death cases. The death cases had older age, and had deterioration of general condition and malignant tumors in more cases (P<0.01, as comparison with those of the living cases). In addition, patients died of cardiovascular diseases, serious infections and deterioration of general condition experienced shorter period of hemodialysis (P<0.05 and P<0.001). Conclusion In patients with maintenance hemodialysis, death and economic problems were the major causes leading to discontinuation of this therapy. Cerebrovascular diseases were the main cause of death. Hypertension, diabetes and older age were the factors relating to the higher mortality rate. Deterioration of general condition and malignant tumor often happened in elder cases. Appropriate dialysis method and dosage will improve their life expectation and living quality.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Causes of death