• Naomi E Hammond, Laurent Billot, Simon Finfer, and John Myburgh.
• Critical Care and Trauma Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia. nhammond@georgeinstitute.org.au.
• Crit Care Resusc. 2014 Sep 1;16(3):206-13.

BackgroundRecent randomised controlled trials have compared the effects of albumin and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) v crystalloids on patient-centred outcomes in critically ill patients. The Saline v Albumin Fluid Evaluation (SAFE) trial reported patient-centred outcomes at 28 days in 6933 patients assigned to fluid resuscitation with either 4% albumin or 0.9% saline; the Crystalloid v Hydroxyethyl Starch Trial (CHEST) reported patient-centred outcomes at 28 days in 6644 patients assigned to fluid resuscitation with either 6% HES (130/0.4) or 0.9% saline. As the two trials used a common reference fluid (0.9% saline) and had most trial methods and data collection points harmonised, a comparison of 4% albumin and 6% HES (130/0.4) on patient-centred outcomes at 28 days in critically ill patients using the individual patient data from the two trials is feasible.ObjectivesTo prepublish the statistical analysis plan (SAP) of an individual patient data comparative analysis of the SAFE and CHEST studies.MethodsThe statistical analyses are described in detail with the appropriate statistical analysis specified.ResultsThe planned statistical analyses are described in detail for the SAFE and CHEST individual patient data comparative analysis. We outline the proposed statistical analysis for the baseline characteristics, processes of care and the outcomes. Subgroups are defined with statistical comparisons between the fluid groups and in each subgroup explained.ConclusionWe have developed a SAP for the SAFE/ CHEST individual patient data comparative analysis to increase the internal validity of the study and minimise bias.

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