Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Survival Analysis

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SL_118
Branch of Science
Other medical sciences; Other Sub-Branches of Medical Sciences
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Life Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Statistics Unit
Contacts

23 Kapselu street, 2nd floor, Riga, statistika@rsu.lv, +371 67060897

About Study Course

Objective

The objective of this course is to give students the advanced knowledge of the methodology of the analysis of time to event data that occurs very frequently in the biomedical research (clinical trials, cohort studies). The aim is to provide students with the tools and most common methods used for such data, as well as a brief overview of more advanced and modern topics. The course will have a strong applied focus, although some details of the mathematical background and justification of the methodology will be provided as well. The software package R will be used for computer practical classes, where several real datasets will be analysed, so that the students would become confident in using the methodology for practical data analysis tasks.

Preliminary Knowledge

• Familiarity with probability theory and mathematical statistics. • Basic knowledge in R software. • Basic knowledge of linear models and statistical estimation techniques (maximum likelihood).

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.On successful course completion students will recognize with the range of statistical analysis methodology available for time to event data. Students will have gained extensive knowledge on the classical methods, such as the Kaplan-Meier estimator and the Cox Proportional Hazards Model survival data, but they will also be aware of and understand more advanced topics: knowing in which situations they would need non-standard methods and what are the resources available to conduct the analysis.

Skills

1.• The students will be able to independently handle most common forms of survival data, doing the necessary conversions between date formats and using graphical visualization tools of the survival distributions. • Ability to fit Cox proportional hazards models, being aware of underlying assumptions and using appropriate tools for model diagnostics. • The students will also have skills to communicate the results and present them in a format that is appropriate for scientific presentations and publications.

Competences

1.• After successful acquisition of the course, the student will be competent to select and critically read the scientific publications, which uses the methodology for survival analysis, as well as establish conclusions, gather scientific evidence. • The students will be able to plan data analysis for a follow-up study, using the methodology of survival analysis. • The students will propose a range of potential extensions of the standard methodology (competing risks, frailty models) and are able to work with available literature resources to develop a plan that satisfies their analysis needs.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
1. Individual work with the course material in preparation to lectures according to plan. 2. Independent data analysis project to practice the tools learned in the practical classes.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
Assessment on the 10-point scale according to the RSU Educational Order: • Independent data analysis project (50%) and presentation of the project’s results (50%).

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Introduction to time to event data: censoring, time scales, survival and hazard functions. Common parametric distributions of survival time.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Exploring time to event data and parametric survival distributions in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Kaplan-Meier estimator of the survival function.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Kaplan-Meier estimator and graphical displays of survival function in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Models for survival data: proportional hazards and accelerated failure time models. Parametric modelling.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Parametric survival models in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The Cox proportional hazards model: fitting the model using the partial likelihood method.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Fitting Cox models in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The Cox proportional hazards model: diagnostics, residuals, predictions. Time-dependent covariates.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Diagnostics and predictions for a Cox model in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Overview of some extensions of the Cox model: models for competing risks, models for recurrent events, frailty models, joint modelling of longitudinal and time to event data.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Estimation of survival and cumulative incidence functions in the presence of competing risks in R. Models with time-dependent covariates.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Oral)
PART-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

Introduction to time to event data: censoring, time scales, survival and hazard functions. Common parametric distributions of survival time.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Exploring time to event data and parametric survival distributions in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

Kaplan-Meier estimator of the survival function.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Kaplan-Meier estimator and graphical displays of survival function in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

Models for survival data: proportional hazards and accelerated failure time models. Parametric modelling.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Parametric survival models in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

The Cox proportional hazards model: fitting the model using the partial likelihood method.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Fitting Cox models in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

The Cox proportional hazards model: diagnostics, residuals, predictions. Time-dependent covariates.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Diagnostics and predictions for a Cox model in R.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
1

Topics

Overview of some extensions of the Cox model: models for competing risks, models for recurrent events, frailty models, joint modelling of longitudinal and time to event data.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
2

Topics

Estimation of survival and cumulative incidence functions in the presence of competing risks in R. Models with time-dependent covariates.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
18 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Collett D. Modelling Survival Data in Medical Research (3rd Edition). Chapman and Hall/CRC, 2014.

Additional Reading

1.

Andersen, P. K. and Keiding, N. Survival and event history analysis. Wiley, 2006.