Table I.

Characteristics of included studies

Study (first author, year)	N	Age [years]		Anemia definition, hemoglobin level [g/dl]	ESA therapy		Follow-up [months]
		ESA	Control		ESA	Control
Cleland, 2005	24	69	74	< 12.5	DA	Placebo	2
Ghali, 2008	319	68	69	9–12	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	12
Kaurea, 2008	41	73	65	< 12.5	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	3
Mancini, 2003	23	87	63	Hematocrit < 35%	EPO + iron	Placebo + iron	3
Palazzuoli, 2006	38	72	75	< 11	EPO + iron	Placebo + iron	9
Palazzuoli, 2007	51	74	72	< 11.5	EPO + iron	Placebo + iron	8
Parissis, 2008	32	72	69	< 12.5	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	3
Ponikowski, 2007	41	70	72	9–12	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	6
Silverberg, 2001	32	75	72	10–11.5	EPO + iron	Iron	8
Swedberg, 2013	2278	71	72	9–12	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	28
Veldhuisen, 2007	165	71	71	9–12	DA + iron	Placebo + iron	6

EPO – erythropoietin, DA – darbepoetin alfa, ESA – erythropoiesis-stimulating agent.