PROPHET StatGuide: Possible alternatives if your data violate life table assumptions

The best cures for some problems--running an experiment longer or doing more aggressive follow-up to avoid a large proportion of censored values, or using a large enough sample size to lessen the problems of lengthy time intervals or the effects of grouping--are outside the scope of statistical analysis per se.

Alternative procedures:

• Stratification: Dividing the sample into homogeneous subsamples
• Parametric methods: Using methods that assume a specific survival distribution
• Nongrouped methods: Using tests that make use of the individual survival values

Stratification:

Stratification involves dividing a sample into subsamples based on one or more characteristics of the population. For example, a sample may be stratified by gender. This gives multiple subsamples, each of which can be analyzed separately.

If the survival function is different for the different strata, then the characteristic used for stratification may be an implicit factor, and the separate analysis for each individual subsample may be more informative than an analysis of the entire sample. Stratification may also reveal correlations between censoring and strata.

A potential drawback with stratification is that one or more of the subsamples may be small in size, leading to problems with the reliability of the estimates. Also, the results for each subsample are generalizable to only a part of the sample population.

Parametric methods:

If a specific survival distribution can be assumed based on previous knowledge, then that assumption can be used to make survival estimates. Elandt-Johnson and Johnson and Lawless discuss methods of fitting parametric survival models to grouped data. As it happens, assuming an (negative) exponential survival distribution for grouped data leads to the usual actuarial life-table estimates.

Like nonparametric methods, parametric methods make assumptions about the independence of censoring and survival, and can be affected by implicit factors, the presence of many censored values, or small sample sizes. In addition, parametric methods assume that the designated survival function is the correct one. And any method based on grouped data is subject to the effects of grouping.

Nongrouped methods:

If the individual survival values (noncensored and censored) are available, then nongrouped methods can may more complete use of the information available. This is an obvious way to deal with the effects of grouping.

A common nonparametric method with individual data is the Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate for the survival function. A specific functional (parametric) form for the survival distribution function, such as the Weibull distribution or the negative exponential distribution, or the Cox proportional hazards model, can also be fitted to individual data, if a particular distribution makes sense a priori. (If the negative exponential model is appropriate, the graph of the log of the survival function [or the cumulative hazard function, which is -log(survival function)], against time should look like a straight line passing through the origin. If the Weibull distribution is appropriate, a graph of the log of the log of the survival function [or the log of the cumulative hazard function] against the log of time should look like a straight line.) Elandt-Johnson and Johnson, Lawless, and Lee discuss these methods.

Like grouped methods, nongrouped methods make assumptions about the independence of censoring and survival, and can be affected by implicit factors, the presence of many censored values, or small sample sizes.

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Last modified: March 13, 1997