Objective:To explore the influencing factors of hemodialysis (HD) initiation in non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) patients with predialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation.Methods:This was a single-center prospective cohort study. The NDKD patients undergoing predialysis AVF creation were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2015 to 2018. According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) and age, patients were divided into different subgroups, eGFR: group 1 [eGFR<10 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1], group 2 [ eGFR between 10 to 15 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1], and group 3 [eGFR > 15 ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1]; age: age ≥65 years group and age <65 years group. The primary outcome was defined as the initiation of HD within 1 year after AVF surgery. The second outcome was the use of AVF access at the time of HD initiation. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to identify which demographic and clinical factors were associated with the initiation of HD after AVF surgery. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with AVF use at the initiation of HD. Results:A total of 220 patients were enrolled, with age of (48.1±16.2) years, of which 143(65.0%) were males. Overall, the clinical parameters of eGFR, cystatin C, serum albumin, 24h-Urine protein, serum phosphorus were as follows respectively, 7.7 (6.6,9.2) ml·min -1·(1.73 m 2) -1, (3.93±1.12) mg/L, (36.0±4.0) g/L, (2.22±1.36) g, (1.71±0.53) mmol/L. The proportion of patients initiating HD within 6 months ( Fisher=6.832, P=0.020) and the level of hemoglobin ( F=3.112, P=0.047) were higher in group 3 compared to the other two eGFR groups. While the median time interval between AVF creation and HD initiation ( H=6.295, P=0.043) was shorter in group 1. In age <65 years group, the level of serum albumin ( t=2.076, P=0.039), triglyceride ( t=1.995, P=0.048) were higher compared with age ≥65 years group; interestingly, the proportion of patients initiated HD within 3 months ( χ2=4.033, P=0.045) and 6 months ( χ2=5.012, P=0.025) were lower in age <65 years group. The median time interval between AVF creation and HD initiation among these patients was 84 (49,174) days. The patients initiating HD within 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after AVF creation were 112 (50.9%), 152 (69.1%), and 202 (91.8%), respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that higher cystatin C level ( HR=1.283, 95% CI 1.121-1.469, P<0.001) was associated with earlier HD initiation within 1 year of AVF surgery in NDKD patients. AVF usage was accomplished in 64.3% of patients who initiated HD within 90 days, the ratio was 100.0% in those initiated HD between 91 to 180 days, and 88.0% in those ≥181 days after AVF surgery. No factor was independently associated with AVF use at HD initiation identified by multivariate logistic regression analyses in patients with NDKD. Conclusion:Serum cystatin C level is associated with HD initiation within 1 year of the predialysis AVF creation in NDKD patients.