In this article, we introduce shared gamma frailty models with three different baseline distributions namely, Weibull, generalized exponential and exponential power distributions. We develop Bayesian estimation procedure using Markov Chain Monte Carlo(MCMC) technique to estimate the parameters involved in these models. We present a simulation study to compare the true values of the parameters with the estimated values. Also we apply these three models to a real life bivariate survival dataset of McGilchrist and Aisbett (1991) related to kidney infection data and a better model is suggested for the data.
Shared frailty models are often used to model heterogeneity in survival analysis. The most common shared frailty model is a model in which hazard function is a product of random factor (frailty) and baseline hazard function which is common to all individuals. There are certain assumptions about the baseline distribution and distribution of frailty. Mostly assumption of gamma distribution is considered for frailty distribution. To compare the results with gamma frailty model, we introduce three shared frailty models with generalized exponential as baseline distribution. The other three shared frailty models are inverse Gaussian shared frailty model, compound Poisson shared frailty model and compound negative binomial shared frailty model. We fit these models to a real life bivariate survival data set of McGilchrist and Aisbett (1991) related to kidney infection using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. Model comparison is made using Bayesian model selection criteria and a better model is suggested for the data.
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