Comparison 1. CERA versus other ESA.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Final Hb	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 CERA every 2 weeks versus rHuEPO	4	1126	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.08 [‐0.04, 0.21]
1.2 CERA every 4 weeks versus rHuEPO	2	672	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.17, 0.12]
1.3 CERA every 2 weeks versus darbepoetin	1	249	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.30 [0.05, 0.55]
2 All‐cause mortality	5		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 CERA every 2 weeks versus rHuEPO	4	1341	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.67, 1.57]
2.2 CERA every 4 weeks versus rHuEPO	2	827	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.15 [0.70, 1.89]
2.3 CERA every 2 weeks versus darbepoetin	1	313	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.44, 1.97]
3 Number of adverse events due to hypertension	5		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 CERA every 2 weeks versus rHuEPO	4	1341	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.69, 1.26]
3.2 CERA every 4 weeks versus rHuEPO	2	827	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.71, 1.40]
3.3 CERA every 2 weeks versus darbepoetin	1	309	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.43, 1.92]
4 Transfusions	5	2481	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.72, 1.20]
4.1 CERA every 2 weeks versus rHuEPO	4	1341	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.64, 1.32]
4.2 CERA every 4 weeks versus rHuEPO	2	827	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.65, 1.57]
4.3 CERA every 2 weeks versus darbepoetin	1	313	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.42, 1.51]
5 Number of adverse events due to access thrombosis	5	2477	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.69, 1.42]
5.1 CERA every 2 weeks versus rHuEPO	4	1341	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.56, 1.65]
5.2 CERA every 4 weeks versus rHuEPO	2	827	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.16 [0.53, 2.54]
5.3 CERA every 2 weeks versus darbepoetin	1	309	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.51 [0.05, 5.56]