Per-Protocol Analysis Set (PPAS), defined as all included participants who received at least 1 dose of paricalcitol capsules and had analyzable data for the primary endpoints, i.e., 5 - 8 months after inclusion, and with available iPTH data at both time points.

Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) target intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels are:

Stage 3 CKD (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate* [eGFR] 30 - 59 mL/min): 3.85 - 7.7 pmol/L;

Stage 4 CKD (eGFR 15 - 29 mL/min): 7.7 - 12.1 pmol/L;

Stage 5 CKD (eGFR < 15 mL/min): 16.5 - 33 pmol/L.

*Calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula.

Per-protocol analysis set. Three participants had missing data at Baseline and one participant had missing data at the 6 month visit; percentages are based on the total number of participants in the per-protocol analysis set (40).

Elevated serum phosphorus is defined according to the 2003 Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) target definitions as:

Stage 3 CKD: ≥ 1.49 mmol/L;

Stage 4 CKD: ≥ 1.49 mmol/L;

Stage 5 CKD: > 1.78 mmol/L.

Per-protocol analysis set. Two patients had missing s-P data at month 6; percentages are based on the total number of participants in the per-protocol analysis set (40).

Elevated serum calcium is defined according to the 2003 Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) target definitions of s-Ca above 2.37 mmol/L.

Per-protocol analysis set. One participant had missing s-Ca data at Baseline and one participant had missing s-Ca data at month 6; percentages are based on the total number of participants in the per-protocol analysis set (40).

Proteinuria is the presence of excess serum proteins, or albumin, in the urine. Proteinuria was measured by the amount of albumin per liter of urine.

Per-protocol analysis set with available data at both time points.

Per-protocol analysis set. Percentages are based on the total number of participants in the per-protocol analysis set.

The KDQOL-SF is a self-report measure developed for individuals with kidney disease. It includes 43 end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-targeted items focused on particular areas of concern for individuals with kidney disease (Symptoms/problems, Effects of the disease on daily life, Burden of disease, Work status, Cognitive function, Quality of social interaction, Sexual function, Sleep, and Social support), 36 items (SF-36) that provide 8 measures of physical and mental health (Physical functioning, Role limitations caused by physical health limitations, Role limitations caused by emotional health problems, Social functioning, Emotional well-being, Pain, Energy/fatigue and General health perceptions), and 1 overall health rating item where respondents rate their health on a scale from 0 ("worst possible health") to 10 ("best possible health").

Scores are transformed and calculated such that each scale score ranges from 0 to 100 where higher scores reflect a better quality of life.

Per-protocol analysis set with available data at both time points.

Direct medical costs to be calculated included outpatient visits, hospitalizations, pharmaceuticals, etc. However the data collected in this observational study was not enough to support this calculation.

Indirect costs were estimated by using the number of hours missed from work (absenteeism) multiplied by the average hourly labor cost, including wages and benefits, to calculate average lost productivity costs due to absenteeism during the preceding 7 days.

Hours missed from work were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI-GH) questionnaire, in which respondents answer 6 questions related to work productivity and impairment.

Unit costs were taken from official sources (Statistics Sweden, www.scb.se) and published literature.

Participants who were working for pay and with available data at both time points.

Full analysis set