Author Response to "Unraveling Methodology to Ensure the Search for Optimal Nutrition Quantity in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Remains INTACT".

ABSTRACT

We thank Drs. Patel, Martindale, and Heyland1 for their interest in our most recent study2 exploring the role of early exposure to recommended energy delivery in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Their stated concerns center around 3 major areas (1) the comparability of the population in our study2 with those of INTACT (Intensive Nutrition in Acute Lung Injury A Clinical Trial); (2) their confusion on the analysis of the relationship between the likelihood of death with energy exposure (table 1 in our article2 ); and (3) their apparent misunderstanding of type I error, type II error, P-values, and power analysis. Our responses to each of these areas are detailed as follows.