Parametric Analysis for Matched Pair Survival Data

Authors: Manatunga A.K.¹; Oakes D.²

Source: Lifetime Data Analysis, Volume 5, Number 4, December 1999 , pp. 371-387(17)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Hougaard's (1986) bivariate Weibull distribution with positive stable frailties is applied to matched pairs survival data when either or both components of the pair may be censored and covariate vectors may be of arbitrary fixed length. When there is no censoring, we quantify the corresponding gain in Fisher information over a fixed-effects analysis. With the appropriate parameterization, the results take a simple algebraic form. An alternative marginal (``independence working model'') approach to estimation is also considered. This method ignores the correlation between the two survival times in the derivation of the estimator, but provides a valid estimate of standard error. It is shown that when both the correlation between the two survival times is high, and the ratio of the within-pair variability to the between-pair variability of the covariates is high, the fixed-effects analysis captures most of the information about the regression coefficient but the independence working model does badly. When the correlation is low, and /or most of the variability of the covariates occurs between pairs, the reverse is true. The random effects model is applied to data on skin grafts, and on loss of visual acuity among diabetics. In conclusion some extensions of the methods are indicated and they are placed in a wider context of Generalized Estimating Equation methodology.

Keywords: association; bivariate data; copula; frailty; independence working model; life-tables; proportional hazards; random effects; stable distributions; Weibull models

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Biostatistics, Emory University School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329 2: Department of Biostatistics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642

Publication date: 1999-12-01

• In this: publication
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• In this Subject: Biology ,  Mathematics and Statistics
• By this author: Manatunga A.K. ;  Oakes D.

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