Episodes, events and mean percentage change in potassium concentration in the IVPR and EPR arms
| Intention to treat (ITT) | Actual treatment received(AT) | |||||
| Intravenous K | Oral K | p-value* | Intravenous K | Oral K | p-value* | |
| Events | 234 | 226 | 279 | 181 | ||
| Episode per child (N) | 18 | 23 | 23 | 18 | ||
| Mean±SD | 2.7±2.1 | 2.1±1.3 | 0.32 | 2.5±1.9 | 2.2±1.4 | 0.63 |
| Event per episode (N) | 48 | 49 | 57 | 40 | ||
| Mean±SD | 5.0±4.9 | 4.6±4.2 | 0.70 | 5.0±4.8 | 4.5±4.2 | 0.64 |
| Change in potassium (N)† | 48 | 49 | 57 | 40 | ||
| Mean±SD 95% CI | 0.82±0.7 (0.62 to 1.01) | 0.86±0.8 (0.62 to 1.10) | 0.80 | 0.78±0.6 (0.65 to 0.95) | 0.93±0.8 (0.64 to 1.21) | 0.34 |
| Relative percentage change in potassium (N)‡ | 48 | 49 | 57 | 40 | ||
| Mean±SD 95% CI | 24±20 (18 to 30) | 26±30 (18 to 35) | 0.59 | 22±20 (17 to 27) | 29±30 (19 to 39) | 0.20 |
| Mean difference (95% CI) | −2.7% (−12.8% to 7.3%) | −5.5% (−17% to 4.2%) | ||||
| Relative percentage change in potassium first episode (N)‡ | 18 | 23 | 23 | 18 | ||
| Mean±SD 95% CI | 25±20 (16 to 34) | 30±20 (19 to 41) | 0.51 | 24±20 (16 to 31) | 33±30 (20 to 46) | 0.18 |
Baseline characteristics of patients in both arms are presented in table 2a. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics; however, the IVPR arm had a higher inotropic score compared with the EPR arm for ITT (8.5±9.1 vs 4.6±4.1, p=0.01 respectively) and actual treatment (8.4±8.8 vs 4.1±3.3, p=0.004 respectively) analysis. All values reported as mean±SD (95% CI).
*Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison of episodes and events due to skewed distribution while change in potassium concentration and relative percentage change were compared using an independent sample t test.
†Change in potassium concentration calculated as last event K – first event K of an episode.
‡Relative percentage change calculated as (first K value of the episode – last K value of the episode)/first K value of the episode * 100.
EPR, enteral potassium replacement; IVPR, intravenous potassium replacement.