The present invention pertains to the diagnosis of a high risk of mortality or other adverse events in a patient suffering from anemia, for example anemia caused by chemotherapy, cancer or chronic inflammation such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). The invention provides means to diagnose a patient who receives Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESA) and suffer from an adverse event if the treatment with the ESA is continued. Based on the herein disclosed methods, the clinician will be able to diagnose the prevalence of a fatal event and adjust the treatment of the anemia in the patient accordingly.