Cochrane · systematic review · CD012633
Intravenous iron versus oral iron versus no iron with or without erythropoiesis‐ stimulating agents (ESA) for cancer patients with anaemia: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Adams, A, Scheckel, B, Habsaoui, A, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2022 · Cochrane Library
HaematologyAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
14
current version
GRADE rated
8
No studies
6
Included studies
NR
No studies 6 · 42.9%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 5 · 35.7%Moderate 3 · 21.4%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
ESA with or without iron versus no treatment
Population: patients at any age with solid cancer or haematological malignancy
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
On‐study mortality3 (Subnet based on 55 studies including 15,074 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | RR 0.13 [0.01, 2.29] | NR | Low |
Haemoglobin response (Subnet based on 31 studies including 6985 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | RR 6.71 [4.93, 9.14] | NR | Moderate |
Red blood cell transfusions (Subnet based on 69 studies including 18,684 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | RR 0.44 [0.31, 0.63] | NR | Moderate |
Overall mortality4 (Subnet based on 71 studies including 21,576 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | RR 1.46 [0.87, 2.43] | NR | Low |
Thromboembolic events5 (Subnet based on 50 studies including 15,408 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | RR 1.82 [0.98, 3.41] | NR | Moderate |
Thrombocytopenia or haemorrhage5 (Subnet based on 13 studies including 2744 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hypertension5 (Subnet based on 24 studies including 8383 participants) ESA with or without iron vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
IV or oral iron alone versus no treatment
Population: patients at any age with solid cancer or haematological malignancy
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
On‐study mortality3 (Subnet based on 55 studies including 15,074 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | RR 2.95 [0.71, 12.34] | NR | Low |
Haemoglobin response (Subnet based on 31 studies including 6985 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Red blood cell transfusions (Subnet based on 69 studies including 18,684 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | RR 0.74 [0.43, 1.28] | NR | Low |
Overall mortality4 (Subnet based on 71 studies including 21,576 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | RR 1.5 [0.63, 3.56] | NR | Low |
Thromboembolic events5 (Subnet based on 50 studies including 15,408 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Thrombocytopenia or haemorrhage5 (Subnet based on 13 studies including 2744 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hypertension5 (Subnet based on 24 studies including 8383 participants) IV or oral iron alone vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |