How long can I live on dialysis?

It depends on many factors. In theory you can live many years on dialysis. There are patients who live over 30 years on dialysis; unfortunately, they are the exception.

Many of the diseases that predispose you to end-stage renal disease are associated with shortened life spans. It is not typically the dialysis that attenuates your life span but the reason you ended up on dialysis. Over many years dialysis access can become problematic. Accesses may become infected or stop working. This also can affect your longevity. The 5-year mortality rate for dialysis patients is 50%.