Current Methods for Recurrent Events Data With Dependent Termination

Abstract

SummaryThere has been a recent surge of interest in modeling and methods for analyzing recurrent events data with risk of termination dependent on the history of the recurrent events. To aid the future users in understanding the implications of modeling assumptions and modeling properties, we review the state of the art statistical methods and present novel theoretical properties, identifiability results and practical consequences of key modeling assumptions of several fully specified stochastic models. After introducing stochastic models with noninformative termination process, we focus on a class of models which allows both negative and positive association between the risk of termination and the rate of recurrent events via a frailty variable. We also discuss the relationship as well as the major differences between these models in terms of their motivations and physical interpretations. We discuss associated Bayesian methods based on Markov chain Monte Carlo tools, and novel model diagnostic tools to perform inference based on fully specified models. We demonstrate the usefulness of current methodology through an analysis of a data set from a clinical trial. In conclusion, we explore possible future extensions and limitations of the methodology.

Class of Exponentiated Distributions Introduction

“…Associated Bayesian methods based on MCMC tools and novel model diagnostic tools to perform inference based on fully specified models are discussed in Sinha et al (2008).…”

Inference based on censored samples from exponentiated populations

“…For details on the MCMC, see Cowles and Carlin (1996), Gelman and Rubin (1992), Roberts et al (1997), Tierney (1994), Hogg et al (2005). Associated Bayesian methods based on MCMC tools and novel model diagnostic tools to perform inference based on fully specified models are discussed in Sinha et al (2008).…”

Evaluating Utility Measurement From Recurrent Marker Processes in the Presence of Competing Terminal Events

“…Moreover, Lin (2000a,b) proposed semiparametric models for medical cost data. Another related area is analysis of recurrent event process with a terminal event, where Cook and Lawless (1997), Ghosh and Lin (2000), Schaubel and Zhang (2010) considered marginal models, and Huang and Wang (2004), Liu et al (2004), Ye et al (2007), Sinha et al (2008), Zeng and Lin (2009) studied models where a frailty term is shared among recurrent and terminal events. In the literature, nonparametric estimation of recurrent marker process with competing terminal events has not been considered.…”