A competing-risk model based on the life table procedure in epidemiological studies

Abstract

In this paper, a new non-parametric competing-risk model is proposed. This model takes relative susceptibility into account, and is thus free from the usual assumption of independence between competing causes of death. Another feature of the model is the adjustments of survivors and deaths as a results of the elimination of one of the causes of death in the previous time interval. The computational procedure of the model is simple and can be incorporated into the regular life table procedures.