| Two‐stage meta‐analysis based on random‐effects Cox model | Including all studies | Including only studies designed for long‐term follow‐up |
| ESA versus control | HR (95% CI) | HR (95% CI) |
| Chemotherapy | 1.09 (0.97‐1.23) | 1.19 (1.03‐1.37) |
| Radiochemotherapy | 1.47 (0.83‐2.59) | 1.47 (0.83‐2.59) |
| Radiotherapy | 1.51 (0.73‐3.12) | 1.51 (0.72‐3.12) |
| Mixed | 1.50 (0.62‐3.66) | ‐ |
| None | 1.32 (1.06‐1.65) | 1.37 (1.05‐1.78) |
| Overall | 1.16 (1.05‐1.29) | 1.24 (1.10‐1.41) |
| LR test | 0.4234 | 0.6638 |