Figure 2.

Mortality rates are elevated in patients treated with DPO-α except for those in ESA dose category 1. The Cox proportional hazards model was adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, predialysis systolic BP, dialysis duration, dialysis vintage, single-pool Kt/V, diabetes mellitus, a history of cardiovascular diseases, laboratory data (albumin, urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, ferritin, albumin-adjusted calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone), standardized erythropoietin resistance index, and facility indicators. The patients taking EPO-α/β in category 1 were treated as a reference group. The bar graph denotes the adjusted 2-year numbers needed to harm for all-cause death, which was calculated from the reciprocal of the adjusted absolute risk difference between patients taking EPO-α/β and those taking DPO-α in each ESA dose category. HR, hazard ratio; NNH, number needed to harm; Ref., reference.