Subgroup analysis indicated that doublet chemotherapy rather than single-agent chemotherapy significantly increased incidence of grade 3 or higher leukopenia, neutropenia and anemia.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Compared with EGFR-TKI monotherapy, the combination of first-generation EGFR-TKI and CT, especially when applying concurrent delivery of platinum-based doublet chemotherapeutic drugs, significantly improve ORR and prolong PFS and OS in first-line treatment for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Here, EGFR is linked to anemia (phenotype).