High risk ratio on mortality and characteristics of malignancies in dialysis patients.

A questionnaire study was done in order to clarify the risk ratios on the mortality of malignancy and the characteristics of malignancies in dialysis patients. The risk ratios were 4.2 times in males and 7.5 times in females greater than those among the age adjusted general population respectively. The average interval from the first dialysis to the clinical onset of malignant disease was 12 months. About a half of the patients died within 3 months. Frequencies of death in colon cancer, especially rectum, uterus and liver were higher in dialysis patients. Dialysis patients died of malignancies belonged to the older group of the dialysis patient population, however they were younger comparing with those died of malignancies in the general population.