Lower short-term mortality in ICU patients on chronic dialysis than in those requiring acute dialysis.

The crude mortality for patients with pre-existing ESRD was high. Short-term mortality was within range of those not receiving RRT when adjusted for confounders. The severity of acute illness and the burden of comorbidities may be more important than the lack of kidney function per se for the short-term prognosis of RRT patients in the ICU.