Coenrollment of critically ill patients in PROSPECT: A protocol and statistical analysis plan

Introduction The enrollment of a patient into more than one study (i.e., coenrollment) has risks which warrant exploration, particularly with respect to possible effects on trial outcomes. This pre-planned secondary analysis will examine the sensitivity of treatment effects to coenrollment in an international critical care trial (Probiotics: Prevention of Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial (PROSPECT). Objective(s) The primary objective is to evaluate the sensitivity of the effect of probiotics on the primary endpoint of VAP to patient coenrollment in at least one other study. The secondary objectives are to describe the characteristics of coenrolled patients and the studies they were coenrolled into; examine any differences in baseline traits; understand differences in center-level characteristics between coenrolling and non-coenrolling centers; identify factors associated with coenrollment; and explore the relationship between coenrollment status and the incidence of adverse events. Methods We developed a protocol and statistical analysis plan (SAP) for this secondary analysis involving the conduct of a Cox regression model, including treatment allocation, coenrollment status, and the interaction between the two as independent variables. We also describe our planned statistical analyses for the secondary objectives, involving descriptive statistics, univariable analyses, and multivariable analyses. Ethics and dissemination The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal focused on critical care research or trial methodology, and presented at local, national, and international conferences. As a secondary analysis, this study will not undergo secondary research ethics board approval. Data will be presented in aggregate and without patient identifiers.