title: Effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin, vitamin D3 and iron therapy on long-term survival of patients with end-stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis: analysis of 702 patients after 10-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the long-term prognosis of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The largest regional hospital renowned for haemodialysis in northern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 702 ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis between 1993 and 2002 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of overall use of rhEPO, vitamin D3 or Fe therapy was 62 %. The 10-year survival rate in patients with rhEPO supplementation was statistically more favourable than that in patients without rhEPO (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.30, 0.47, P < 0.0001). Similar findings were noted for patients receiving vitamin D3 (HR = 0.36, 95 % CI 0.21, 0.64, P = 0.0004) and Fe (HR = 0.45, 95 % CI 0.33, 0.61, P < 0.0001). After adjusting for age, education and aetiology, the administration of rhEPO resulted in statistically significant improvements in long-term survival rate either with (HR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.22, 0.42) or without (HR = 0.48, 95 % CI 0.38, 0.61) combined use of Fe or vitamin D3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated a reduction in long-term mortality related to supplementation therapy with rhEPO, vitamin D3 and Fe. The findings provide a justification for the administration of combined supplement therapy in patients undergoing haemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health Care Management, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huan-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chien-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Te-Li
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Shu-I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Amy Ming-Fang
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Tony Hsiu-Hsi
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen