Informed Bayesian survival analysis

František Bartoš

Department of Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam

Dept. of Statistical Modelling, Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Location: ZOOM

Meeting ID: 926 8545 1604

Passcode: 358199

Date: Thursday 10 February 2022

Time: 13:30 CET

Abstract:

Parametric survival analysis is a powerful method for parameter estimation, hypothesis testing, and survival extrapolation of censored event history outcomes. We outline and implement a Bayesian model-averaging framework for parametric survival analysis that allows us to incorporate historical data, test informed hypotheses, continuously monitor evidence, and incorporate uncertainty about the true data generating process. We illustrate the Bayesian framework by re-analyzing data from a colon cancer trial. In a simulation study, we compare the Bayesian framework to maximum likelihood estimation of survival models with AIC/BIC model selection in fixed-n and sequential designs. We find that the Bayesian framework (1) produces faster decisions in sequential designs, (2) has slightly higher statistical power and false-positive rates in fixed-n designs, and (3) yields more precise estimates of the treatment effect in small and medium sample sizes. We did not find a clear advantage in predicting survival.


Related pre-print: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.08311

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