Survival Analysis Using SAS

CHAPTER 3

Estimating and Comparing Survival Curves with PROC LIFETEST

Introduction

The Kaplan-Meier Method

Testing for Differences in Survivor Functions

The Life-Table Method

Life Tables from Grouped Data

Testing for Effects of Covariates

Log Survival and Smoothed Hazard Plots

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Prior to 1970, the estimation of survivor functions was the predominant method of survival analysis, and entire books were devoted to its exposition (for example, Gross and Clark, 1975). Nowadays, the workhorse of survival analysis is the Cox regression method discussed in Chapter 5, “Estimating Cox Regression Models with PROC PHREG.” Nevertheless, survival curves are still useful for preliminary examination of the data, for computing derived quantities ...