We study nonparametric estimation of the sub-distribution functions for current status data with competing risks. Our main interest is in the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), and for comparison we also consider a simpler ``naive estimator.'' Both types of estimators were studied by Jewell, van der Laan and Henneman [Biometrika (2003) 90 183--197], but little was known about their large sample properties. We have started to fill this gap, by proving that the estimators are consistent and converge globally and locally at rate $n^{1/3}$. We also show that this local rate of convergence is optimal in a minimax sense. The proof of the local rate of convergence of the MLE uses new methods, and relies on a rate result for the sum of the MLEs of the sub-distribution functions which holds uniformly on a fixed neighborhood of a point. Our results are used in Groeneboom, Maathuis and Wellner [Ann. Statist. (2008) 36 1064--1089] to obtain the local limiting distributions of the estimators.
We study nonparametric estimation for current status data with competing risks. Our main interest is in the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), and for comparison we also consider a simpler ``naive estimator.'' Groeneboom, Maathuis and Wellner [Ann. Statist. (2008) 36 1031--1063] proved that both types of estimators converge globally and locally at rate $n^{1/3}$. We use these results to derive the local limiting distributions of the estimators. The limiting distribution of the naive estimator is given by the slopes of the convex minorants of correlated Brownian motion processes …
We study the uniform convergence rate of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for the sub-distribution functions in the current status data with competing risks model. It is known that the MLE have $L^2$-norm convergence rate $O_P(n^{-1/3})$ in the absolutely continuous case, but there is no arguments for the same rate of uniform convergence. We specify conditions for the uniform convergence rate $O_P(n^{-1/3}\log^{1/3} n)$ of the MLE for the sub-distribution functions of competing risks on finite intervals. The obtained result refines known uniform convergence rate in the part…
For the univariate current status and, more generally, the interval censoring model, distribution theory has been developed for the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and smoothed maximum likelihood estimator (SMLE) of the unknown distribution function, see, e.g., [12], [7], [4], [5], [6], [10], [11] and [8]. For the bivariate current status and interval censoring models distribution theory of this type is still absent and even the rate at which we can expect reasonable estimators to converge is unknown. We define a purely discrete plug-in estimator of the distribution function which locally c…
We construct $\sqrt{n}$-consistent and asymptotically normal estimates for the finite dimensional regression parameter in the current status linear regression model, which do not require any smoothing device and are based on maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the infinite dimensional parameter. We also construct estimates, again only based on these MLEs, which are arbitrarily close to efficient estimates, if the generalized Fisher information is finite. This type of efficiency is also derived under minimal conditions for estimates based on smooth non-monotone plug-in estimates of the distr…
We consider partly linear transformation models applied to current status data. The unknown quantities are the transformation function, a linear regression parameter and a nonparametric regression effect. It is shown that the penalized MLE for the regression parameter is asymptotically normal and efficient and converges at the parametric rate, although the penalized MLE for the transformation function and nonparametric regression effect are only $n^{1/3}$ consistent. Inference for the regression parameter based on a block jackknife is investigated. We also study computational issues and demons…
It has been proved that direct bootstrapping of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the distribution function in the current status model leads to inconsistent confidence intervals. We show that bootstrapping of functionals of the MLE can however be used to produce valid intervals. To this end, we prove that the bootstrapped MLE converges at the right rate in the $L_p$-distance. We also discuss applications of this result to the current status regression model.
We consider the problem of estimating the distribution function, the density and the hazard rate of the (unobservable) event time in the current status model. A well studied and natural nonparametric estimator for the distribution function in this model is the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE). We study two alternative methods for the estimation of the distribution function, assuming some smoothness of the event time distribution. The first estimator is based on a maximum smoothed likelihood approach. The second method is based on smoothing the (discrete) MLE of the distribution…
We discuss a new way of constructing pointwise confidence intervals for the distribution function in the current status model. The confidence intervals are based on the smoothed maximum likelihood estimator (SMLE) and constructed using bootstrap methods. Other methods to construct confidence intervals, using the non-standard limit distribution of the (restricted) MLE, are compared to our approach via simulations and real data applications.
In this paper, a competing risks model is analyzed based on improved adaptive type-II progressive censored sample (IAT-II PCS). Two independent competing causes of failures are considered. It is assumed that lifetimes of the competing causes of failure follow exponential distributions with different means. Maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) for the unknown model parameters are obtained. Using asymptotic normality property of MLE, the asymptotic confidence intervals are constructed. Existence and uniqueness properties of the MLEs are studied. Further, bootstrap confidence intervals are comput…
We study nonparametric isotonic confidence intervals for monotone functions. In Banerjee and Wellner (2001) pointwise confidence intervals, based on likelihood ratio tests for the restricted and unrestricted MLE in the current status model, are introduced. We extend the method to the treatment of other models with monotone functions, and demonstrate our method by a new proof of the results in Banerjee and Wellner (2001) and also by constructing confidence intervals for monotone densities, for which still theory had to be developed. For the latter model we prove that the limit distribution of t…
We consider the problem of estimating the joint distribution function of the event time and a continuous mark variable based on censored data. More specifically, the event time is subject to current status censoring and the continuous mark is only observed in case inspection takes place after the event time. The nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) in this model is known to be inconsistent. We propose and study an alternative likelihood based estimator, maximizing a smoothed log-likelihood, hence called a maximum smoothed likelihood estimator (MSLE). This estimator is shown to be w…
In this paper, we introduce a new distribution called Burr III-Weibull(BW) distribution using the concept of competing risk. We derive moments, conditional moments, mean deviation and quantiles of the proposed distribution. Also the Renyi's entropy and order statistics of the distribution are obtained. Estimation of parameters of the distribution is performed via maximum likelihood method. A simulation study is performed to validate the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE). A real practical data set is analyzed for illustration.
New methods and theory have recently been developed to nonparametrically estimate cumulative incidence functions for competing risks survival data subject to current status censoring. In particular, the limiting distribution of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator and a simplified "naive estimator" have been established under certain smoothness conditions. In this paper, we establish the large-sample behavior of these estimators in two additional models, namely when the observation time distribution has discrete support and when the observation times are grouped. These asymptotic res…
Competing risks model time to first event and type of first event. An example from hospital epidemiology is the incidence of hospital-acquired infection, which has to account for hospital discharge of non-infected patients as a competing risk. An illness-death model would allow to further study hospital outcomes of infected patients. Such a model typically relies on a Markov assumption. However, it is conceivable that the future course of an infected patient does not only depend on the time since hospital admission and current infection status but also on the time since infection. We demonstra…
Maximum likelihood estimation for aggregate current status data: Simulation study using the illness-death model for chronic diseases with duration dependency
Nonparametric estimation of a state entry time distribution conditional on a "past" state occupation in a progressive multistate model with current status data
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute（癌症流行病学与遗传学系，国家癌症研究所）；Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida（生物统计学系，佛罗里达大学）
