Regression analysis of recurrent events data with incomplete observation gaps

Abstract

For analyzing recurrent event data, either total time scale or gap time scale is adopted according to research interest. In particular, gap time scale is known to be more appropriate for modeling a renewal process. In this paper, we adopt gap time scale to analyze recurrent event data with repeated observation gaps which cannot be observed completely because of unknown termination times of observation gaps. In order to estimate termination times, interval-censored mechanism is applied. Simulation studies are done to compare the suggested methods with the unadjusted method ignoring incomplete observation gaps. As a real example, conviction data set with suspensions is analyzed with suggested methods.

Keywords:

• gap time scale
• interval-censored data
• observation gap
• recurrent event data
• YTOP data

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2012R1A1A3011350).