[Number of years on chronic dialysis and the mortality risk in patients with and without diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To assess whether, in Brazil, the number of years on dialysis treatment in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, with and without diabetes mellitus, relates to mortality risk.

Methods: Analysis of data from the Ministry of Health of Brazil of 25.952 patients older than 18 years who were on dialytic treatment in April 1997.