Modeling and analysis of data with confounding covariates and crossing of the hazard functions

Abstract

Parametric models for analysis of survival data with possible crossing of hazard rates related with two treatment groups are introduced. Strategy for survival improvement through application of time-varying treatment is discussed. Complete and right-censored data with possible confounding covariates are considered. Estimators of the crossing points are given. Chi-square type goodness-of-fit tests for the considered models are given. Parametric tests for the absence of crossing of survival functions (and also for crossing of the hazard functions) hypothesis are proposed.

Keywords:

• Survival analysis
• hazard crossing
• goodness-of-fit
• optimal treatment strategy
• time dependent covariate