Parametric inference of incomplete data with competing risks among several groups

Author

Park, Chanseok ; Kulasekera, K.B.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Math. Sci., Clemson Univ., SC, USA

Volume

53

Issue

1

fYear

2004

fDate

3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

11

Lastpage

21

Abstract

We develop parametric inferential methods for the competing risks problem where data arise due to multiple causes of failure in several groups with censoring and possibly missing causes. We provide the general likelihood method and the closed-form maximum-likelihood estimators for the exponential model. Parametric tests are given for comparing different causes and groups. An extensive numerical and graphical investigation is presented to substantiate the proposed methods. A real-data example is illustrated.

Keywords

exponential distribution; failure analysis; maximum likelihood estimation; reliability theory; risk analysis; cause of failure; closed-form maximum-likelihood estimator; competing risk problem; exponential distribution; exponential model; general likelihood method; graphical investigation; incomplete data; lifetime data analysis; numerical investigation; parametric inferential method; parametric test; Distribution functions; Exponential distribution; Failure analysis; Hazards; Life estimation; Lifetime estimation; Maximum likelihood estimation; Mean square error methods; Probability density function; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Reliability, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9529

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TR.2003.821946

Filename

1282157