[Statistical methods for comparing survival rates at a fixed time point]

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2015 Feb;36(2):186-8.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Comparison of survival curves between two groups is an important part of disease prognosis study. Log-rank test is commonly used, but when the two curves' later intersecting opening is too large, the proportion of assumptions is not established, thus the Log-rank test is ineffective. We introduces five statistical tests to compare two survival curves at a fixed time points: classic method, logarithmic transformation, cloglog transformation, arcsine transformation and logit transformation. Through the study we found that if the overall survival curves are difficult to compare between groups tested with Log-rank test method or Two-stage test method, the fixed time point test can effectively determine whether there was significant difference in survival rate at a fixed time point. Among the five fixed time point tests, cloglog transformation could give more precise result.

MeSH terms

  • Epidemiologic Methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate*