Table 7. Stool characteristics and gas episodes at inclusion and after 1 month of feeding with locust bean gum-thickened formula in patients completing the study (n=2,421).
| Parameter | At inclusion | After 1 month | OR (95% CI) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stool frequency | n=2,413 | n=2,397 | 0.76 (0.69–0.84) | <0.001 | |
| <1 per day | 390 (16.1) | 137 (5.7) | |||
| 1 per day | 713 (29.5) | 820 (34.2) | |||
| 2–3 per day | 1,111 (46.0) | 1,311 (54.7) | |||
| ≥4 per day | 199 (8.2) | 129 (5.4) | |||
| Stool consistency | n=2,415 | n=2,387 | 2.25 (2.05–2.48) | <0.001 | |
| Liquid/watery | 781 (32.3) | 1,171 (49.0) | |||
| Soft/mushy | 553 (22.9) | 572 (24.0) | |||
| Formed | 734 (30.4) | 581 (24.3) | |||
| Hard | 347 (14.4) | 63 (2.6) | |||
| Frequency of gas episodes | n=2,350 | n=2,390 | 12.67 (11.22–14.31) | <0.001 | |
| None | 0 (0) | 907 (37.9) | |||
| 1–2 per day | 949 (40.4) | 1,132 (47.4) | |||
| 3–4 per day | 1,037 (44.1) | 293 (12.3) | |||
| >4 per day | 364 (15.5) | 58 (2.43) | |||
Values are presented as number (%).
OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval.
OR (95% CI): OR indicates progression of symptoms after 1 month. When OR >1, the risk of decreasing severity after 1 month is multiplied by OR (e.g., 12.67 less risk of having frequent gas). When OR <1, risk of increasing severity is divided by OR (e.g., 1/0.76=1.3 higher risk of having frequent stool).