Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of mortality in dialysis patients. Aspirin, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce CVD mortality in the general population, as may angiotensin II receptor antagonists. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and usage rates of cardioprotective agents in end-stage renal failure are unknown. A retrospective, cross-sectional study of dialysis patients was performed to compare: (i) prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (age, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking); (ii) use of cardioprotective agents; and (iii) prevalence of cardiovascular disease between the time-points: 1996 (n = 262) versus 2001 (n = 369). We found an increase in the risk factors of age (53.6 +/- 14.9 years in 1996 vs 58.4 +/- 14.3 in 2001; P < 0.001) and hyperlipidaemia (45 vs 51.8%; P < 0.001) between the two time-points, with a reduction in the prevalence of smoking (14.5 vs 8.1%; P = 0.016). There was no difference in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (37.4 vs 40.7%; P = 0.44). Cardioprotective agents were underutilized, with improvement in prescribing practice between 1996 and in 2001, especially in the usage of statins (21.4 vs 38.7% in 2001; P = 0.019). In conclusion, CVD is the primary cause of mortality in our dialysis patients. Although traditional cardiovascular risk factors affect the majority of the dialysis population, underutilization of cardioprotective agents is common. Proof of efficacy of these agents in this population of enormous risk is urgently required.