A generalized additive regression model for survival times

Abstract

We present a non-parametric survival model with two time-scales. The time-scales are equivalent up to a constant that varies over the subjects. Covariate effects are modelled linearly on each time scale by additive Aalen models. Estimators of the cumulative intensities on the two time-scales are suggested by solving approximate local maximum likelihood estimating equations. The local estimating equations necessitate only the choice of one bandwidth. The estimators are provided with large sample properties. The model is applied to data on patients with myocardial infarction, and used to describe the prognostic effect of covariates on the two time scales, time since myocardial infarction and age.