Small-study safety and effect analysis
The funnel plots comparing the safety of AEs and SAEs, the efficacy of
Hb response, and ΔHb showed a symmetrical pattern in DD CKD patient
groups (Supplementary Figure S19-22), which indicated that there might
not be a statistical small-study effect (Egger’s test;
P>0.05).
Sensitivity analysis
Although the primary analysis was based on a
frequentist model, it was
repeated with a Bayesian model to test the robustness. The method showed
similar SUCRA scores.