Table 2 Study characteristics

Experimental or observational

 Observational

199

94%

 Experimental

13

6%

Study Design

 Cohort study

169

80%

 Case series

14

7%

 Case control study

12

6%

 Before and after study or interrupted time series

4

2%

 Cross sectional

0

0%

 Non-randomised controlled study

9

4%

 Randomised controlled trial

4

2%

Clinical setting of intervention

 Inpatient (hospital) setting (other than dialysis)

167

79%

 Dialysis unit (hospital or satellite)

19

9%

 Outpatient setting (other than dialysis)

10

5%

 Rehabilitation unit

5

2%

 Multiple settings

3

1%

 Not reported

8

4%

Country

 United States of America

87

41%

 Japan

55

26%

 Germany

10

5%

 Italy

9

4%

 Canada

7

3%

 Taiwan

6

3%

 United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

5

2%

 Finland

3

1%

 Israel

3

1%

 Singapore

3

1%

 China

2

1%

 Czech Republic

2

1%

 France

2

1%

 Greece

2

1%

 Poland

2

1%

 The Netherlands

2

1%

 Australia

1

0.5%

 Austria

1

0.5%

 Korea

1

0.5%

 Portugal

1

0.5%

 Spain

1

0.5%

 Sweden

1

0.5%

 Switzerland

1

0.5%

 Turkey

1

0.5%

 Multiple countries

2

1%

 Not reported

2

1%

Duration of intervention or follow-up

 Less than 6 months

21

10%

 6 months to less than 1 year

11

5%

 1 year to less than 2 years

66

31%

 2 years to less than 5 years

55

26%

 5 years or more

45

21%

 Not reported

14

7%

Comparator group

 Yes

56

26%

 No

156

74%

 < 75%

117

55%

 ≥75%

95

45%

Type of dialysis

 Haemodialysis

99

47%

 Peritoneal dialysis

2

1%

 Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

43

20%

 Not reported

68

32%

Renal transplant patients included

 Yes

31

15%

 No

181

85%

Diabetes

 Yes

32

15%

 No

0

0%

 Yes and no

114

54%

 Not reported

66

31%