To investigate the 5-year mortality of patients undergoing maintenance hemo-dialysis (HD) at Al-Shat center Tripoli, we reviewed during June 2007 the records of all the HD patients initiated on HD from Jun 2000 and Jan 2002. There were 124 patients in the study, 77 males (63.6%) and 47 (36.4%) females, with a mean age of 49 +/- 14 years. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was the underlying kidney disease in 34 (27.4%) patients. After 5 years; 3 patients were transferred to other centers, 18 (14.9%) patients underwent kidney transplan-tation. Out of the 103 patients who continued on hemodialysis, 53 (51.4%) expired during the 5-year follow-up. Mortality was associated with older age (p 50 years) and DN (p< 0.002 and OR of 3.9). Mortality rate in diabetics was 74.1% and significantly associated with male sex (p< 0.0067 and OR of 2.4), older age (p< 0.004), presence of hypertension (p< 0.003 and OR of 3.9), type 1 diabetes (OR 1.6), and elevated mean body weight (p< 0.046). Mortality was also relatively higher in black patients (OR of 2.0) and smokers (OR of 1.39). In conclusion, the overall 5- year mortality for dialysis patients was elevated and higher in the diabetics.