Table 1 Patient demographics between groups

Age^d (years)

54(42–64)

54(40–66)

Sex male/female

420/340

414/326

Median duration of dialysis (months)

6.2(3.2–9.7)

6.1(3.1–9.5)

BMI^d, kg/m²

26.2(21.1–31.4)

26.3(21.6–31.8)

Blood pressure^de (mmHg)

 Systolic

149(120–174)

148(115–182)

 Diastolic

72(59–90)

73(60–89)

Hemoglobin^d (g/dl)

10.4(8.5–12.1)

10.8(8.1–12.7)

Median serum ferritin concentration (μg/l)

221(126–297)

220(124–298)

Median transferrin saturation (%)

21 (14–25)

21 (13–25)

Median C-reactive protein level (mg/l)

6.3 (3.1–14.6)

6.4 (3.2–15.8)

Median dose of ESA (IU/wk)

9000 (4000–11,000)

9000 (4000–11,000)

Vascular access, n (%)

 Dialysis catheter

284(37.4)

290(39.2)

 Arteriovenous fistula or graft

476(62.6)

450(60.8)

Cardiovascular disease, n (%)

 Prior myocardial infarction

64(8.4)

74(10.0)

 Hyperlipidemia

186(24.5)

196(26.5)

 Atrial fibrillation

76(10.0)

53(7.2)

 Hypertension

367(48.3)

342(46.2)

 Heart failure

67(8.8)

75(10.1)

Diabetes, n (%)

216 (28.4)

202 (27.3)

Primary cause of kidney failure, n (%)

 Diabetic nephropathy

221(11)

200(27.0)

 Glomerular disease

143(19)

141(19.0)

 Hypertension

287(26)

270(36.5)

 Tubulointerstitial disease^f

65(15)

76(10.3)

 Polycystic kidney disease

30(21)

33(4.5)

 Unclear

14(8)

20(2.7)