Comparison 3.

Darbepoetin alfa or erythropoietin (erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents ‐ ESAs) versus placebo or no treatment

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 BSID‐III composite cognitive score at 18 to 22 months	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	7.80 [1.65, 13.95]
2 BSID‐III composite language score at 18 to 22 months	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	7.10 [0.49, 13.71]
3 BSID‐III composite social/emotional score at 18 to 22 months	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.20 [‐5.06, 13.46]
4 OP score at 18 to 24 months	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.40 [‐0.04, 0.84]
5 BASC‐2 composite scores at 3.5 to 4 years ‐ adaptive skills	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.54 [‐3.58, 8.66]
6 BASC‐2 composite scores at 3.5 to 4 years ‐ behaviour symptoms	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐8.66 [‐18.01, 0.69]
7 BASC‐2 composite score at 3.5 to 4 years ‐ externalising problems	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐8.0 [‐15.94, ‐0.06]
8 BASC‐2 composite scores at 3.5 to 4 years ‐ internalising problems	1	49	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.56 [‐9.25, 4.13]
9 WPPSI‐III FSIQ at 3.5 to 4 years of age	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	11.90 [0.76, 23.04]
10 WPPSI‐III VIQ at 3.5 to 4 years of age	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	8.80 [‐1.75, 19.35]
11 WPPSI‐III PIQ at 3.5 to 4 years of age	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	13.5 [1.98, 25.02]
12 WPPSI‐III GLC at 3.5 to 4 years of age	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	5.13 [‐5.30, 15.56]
13 Executive function at 3.5 to 4 years	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	8.36 [0.51, 16.21]
14 Working memory at 3.5 to 4 years	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	9.06 [‐1.06, 19.18]
15 Inhibition at 3.5 to 4 years	1	53	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	7.60 [‐2.79, 17.99]