Table 5.

Blood analysis before and after rhEPO administration

	Control n = 948	rhEPO n = 950	Difference (95% CI)	P value
Before rhEPO administration
RBC count (× 1012/L),	4.0 ± 0.8	3.9 ± 0.6	0.06 (0.00–0.12)	0.065
Hemoglobin (g/l)	139.5 ± 29.1	140.8 ± 27.6	1.30 (− 1.25–3.85)	0.318
Hematocrit (%),	42.3 ± 8.8	42.7 ± 8.4	0.40 (− 0.37–1.17)	0.311
Platelet (109/L	239.1 ± 114.2	246.1 ± 108.4	7.00 (− 3.02–17.02)	0.171
After rhEPO administration
RBC count (1012/L)	3.0 ± 0.5	3.3 ± 0.5	0.30 (0.25–0.35)	< 0.001
Hemoglobin (g/l),	98.2 ± 18.3	106.3 ± 23.6	8.10 (6.20–10.00)	< 0.001
Hematocrit (%)	29.8 ± 5.5	32.2 ± 7.1	2.40 (1.83–2.97)	< 0.001
Platelet (109/L)	265.3 ± 124.1	268.8 ± 109.7	3.50 (-7.04–14.04)	0.515
Transfusions	1.8 ± 1.9	1.5 ± 1.7	0.302 (0.181–0.424)	< 0.001