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.