Regression analysis of clustered interval-censored failure time data with linear transformation models in the presence of informative cluster size

• Published in: Journal of nonparametric statistics Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 703 - 715
• Main Authors: Zhao, Hui, Ma, Chenchen, Li, Junlong, Sun, Jianguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.07.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Asymptotic properties; Clustered data; Clusters; Computer simulation; estimating equation; Failure analysis; informative cluster size; interval-censoring; linear transformation models; Linear transformations; Markov analysis; Parameter estimation; Regression analysis; Resampling; within-cluster resampling
• ISSN: 1048-5252; 1029-0311
• DOI: 10.1080/10485252.2018.1469755

This paper discusses regression analysis of clustered interval-censored failure time data, which often occur in medical follow-up studies among other areas. For such data, sometimes the failure time may be related to the cluster size, the number of subjects within each cluster or we have informative cluster sizes. For the problem, we present a within-cluster resampling method for the situation where the failure time of interest can be described by a class of linear transformation models. In addition to the establishment of the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators of regression parameters, an extensive simulation study is conducted for the assessment of the finite sample properties of the proposed method and suggests that it works well in practical situations. An application to the example that motivated this study is also provided.