In line with our study, previous reports have suggested that TL is shorter in patients with end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis compared with the general population. For example, in a study of 15 patients on haemodialysis and 15 age-matched controls, the authors found an accelerated telomere shortening in patients on dialysis . Another study in 18 diabetic patients on dialysis and 20 controls found an inverse correlation between TL and length of time in dialysis . A study of 42 haemodialysis patients found reduced telomerase activity compared with non-haemodialysis patients .