Semiparametric copula method for semi-competing risks data subject to interval censoring and left truncation: Application to disability in elderly

We aim to evaluate the marginal effects of covariates on time-to-disability in the elderly under the semi-competing risks framework, as death dependently censors disability, not vice versa. It becomes particularly challenging when time-to-disability is subject to interval censoring due to intermitte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Statistical methods in medical research 2023-04, Vol.32 (4), p.656-670
Main Authors: Sun, Tao, Li, Yunlong, Xiao, Zhengyan, Ding, Ying, Wang, Xiaojun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Asymptotic methods
Asymptotic properties
Competing risks models
Computer Simulation
Disability
Humans
Intermittent
Likelihood Functions
Mathematical models
Maximum likelihood estimation
Maximum likelihood method
Models, Statistical
Older people
Parameters
Proportional Hazards Models
Transformation
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Summary:We aim to evaluate the marginal effects of covariates on time-to-disability in the elderly under the semi-competing risks framework, as death dependently censors disability, not vice versa. It becomes particularly challenging when time-to-disability is subject to interval censoring due to intermittent assessments. A left truncation issue arises when the age time scale is applied. We develop a flexible two-parameter copula-based semiparametric transformation model for semi-competing risks data subject to interval censoring and left truncation. The two-parameter copula quantifies both upper and lower tail dependence between two margins. The semiparametric transformation models incorporate proportional hazards and proportional odds models in both margins. We propose a two-step sieve maximum likelihood estimation procedure and study the sieve estimators’ asymptotic properties. Simulations show that the proposed method corrects biases in the marginal method. We demonstrate the proposed method in a large-scale Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study and provide new insights into preventing disability in the elderly. The proposed method could be applied to the general semi-competing risks data with intermittently assessed disease status.
ISSN:0962-2802
1477-0334
DOI:10.1177/09622802221133552