Censoring distributions as a measure of follow-up in survival analysis

Stat Med. 1986 May-Jun;5(3):255-60. doi: 10.1002/sim.4780050306.

Abstract

The mean or median of the follow-up times as a measure of the quality or completeness of the follow-up in a survival analysis can sometimes be misleading--a more severe disease will have shorter follow-up times because of earlier deaths. We suggest here that estimates of the censoring distribution provide a more useful measure of the follow-up. This paper gives estimation procedures for both grouped-time (cohort) data and continuous data, and provides an application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actuarial Analysis*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Probability
  • Time Factors