Population
People with dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease who took part in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified by a systematic review (n= 5,768, 10 RCTs).
Intervention
Roxadustat at various doses (ROX, n= 3,031).
Comparison
Various control treatments [darbepoetin alfa; recombinant human erythropoietin or erythropoiesis-stimulating agent], (n= 2,737).
Outcome
ROX was associated with increase in haemoglobin level (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.39), total iron-binding capacity (SMD: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.98), serum iron (SMD: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.36), transferrin (SMD: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.15) and decrease in hepcidin (SMD: -15.53; 95% CI: -28.07, -3.00) when compared with control group. There was no difference between ROX and the control group regarding ferritin level and transferrin saturation. Sensitivity analysis by removing the most recent studies, Chen et al. or Hou et al. did not show significant difference in regard to change in Hb level. There was no difference between both groups regarding the serious side effects. However, ROX showed higher treatment emergent adverse events when compared to the control group (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05).