Proportional Relative Hazards Model for Competing Risks Data

Abstract

In this article, we propose a Proportional Relative Hazards (PRH) model to differentiate subjects according to their risk for a primary event relative to competing events. The model estimates effects on the baseline ratio of the hazard for a primary event, or set of primary events, relative to the hazard for a competing event, or set of competing events (ω+ ratio). An analogous model is presented to estimate effects on the baseline ratio of the hazard for a primary event (or set of events) relative to the hazard for all events (ω ratio). A weighted regression method is introduced, along with practical presentation of risk-stratification using the PRH model in breast and head and neck cancer data sets.