Figure 1.
Cubic polynomials were fitted to illustrate the adjusted difference in pre-ESKD hemoglobin concentration, according to the 90th percentile community water lead concentration in the patient’s city of primary residence. To account for the effect of ESA treatment, corrected hemoglobin was derived by subtracting 2 g/dl from observed hemoglobin concentration among pre-ESKD ESA users. Adjusted for age, sex, race, history of diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, cancer, tobacco use, body mass index, estimated glomerular function, insurance status, employment, year of dialysis initiation, and county air pollution. Dashed lines reflect 95% CI. The figure excludes patients (n=3187) in cities with a reported lead concentration ≥0.03 mg/L.