Abstract
For \( 1\le i \le r\), let \(F_i\) be the cumulative incidence function (CIF) corresponding to the ith risk in an r-competing risks model. We assume a discrete or a grouped time framework and obtain the maximum likelihood estimators (m.l.e.) of these CIFs under the restriction that \(F_i(t)/F_{i+1}(t)\) is nondecreasing, \(1 \le i \le r-1.\) We also derive the likelihood ratio tests for testing for and against this restriction and obtain their asymptotic distributions. The theory developed here can also be used to investigate the association between a failure time and a discretized or ordinal mark variable that is observed only at the time of failure. To illustrate the applicability of our results, we give examples in the competing risks and the mark variable settings.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Kandari, N., El Barmi, H. (2022). Restricted estimation of the cumulative incidence functions of two competing risks. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 217, 122–140.
Aly, E. A. A., Kochar, S. C., McKeague, I. W. (1994). Some tests for comparing cumulative incidence functions and cause-specific hazard rates. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 89, 994–999.
Dauxois, J. Y., Kirmani, S. (2003). On testing for a survival ratio under random right censoring. Journal of Nonparametric Statistics, 17, 949–955.
El Barmi, H., Kochar, S. (2002). Inference for subsurvival functions under order restrictions. Journal of the Indian Statistical Association, 40, 85–103.
El Barmi, H., Mukerjee, H. (2006). Restricted estimation of cumulative incidence functions corresponding to competing risks. Optimality, Second Lehmann Symposium, IMS-LNMS, 241–252.
El Barmi, H., Kochar, S., Mukerjee, H., Samaniego, F. (2004). Estimation of cumulative incidence functions in competing risks studies under an order restriction. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 118, 145–165.
El Barmi, H., Kochar, S., Tsimikas, J. (2006). Likelihood ratio test for and against ordering of cumulative incidence functions in multiple competing risks and discrete mark variable models. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 136, 1588–1607.
Gilbert, P. B., Mckeague, I. W., Sun, Y. (2004). Tests for comparing mark-specific hazards and cumulative incidence functions. Lifetime Data Analysis, 10, 5–28.
Hoel, D. G. (1972). A representation of mortality data by competing risks. Biometrics, 28, 475–478.
Robertson, T., Wright, F. T., Dykstra, R. L. (1988). Order restricted inference. New York: Wiley.
Shaked, M., Shanthikumar, G. J. (2006). Stochastic orders. New York: Springer.
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the associate and a referee for helpful comments that led to a much improved paper. This work was supported by The City University of New York through a PSC-CUNY grant.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
About this article
Cite this article
El Barmi, H. On comparing competing risks using the ratio of their cumulative incidence functions. Ann Inst Stat Math 74, 1067–1083 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10463-022-00823-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10463-022-00823-9