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A comparison of the alternative methods of calculating survival curves arising from clinical trials

par Sylvester, Richard ;Machin, David;Staquet, Maurice
Référence Biomedicine, 28, SPEC.ISSUE, page (49-53)
Publication Publié, 1978

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

We have reviewed and compared the various methods available for the estimation of survival curves. The experience of the EORTC Data Center is that most trials are designed with a small number of patients on each arm and that actuarial methods are therefore appropriate. Since in clinical trials one will have available either the date of death or the date the patient was last known te be alive, approximations based on Life Table Methods are unnecessary. Thus the Kaplan-Meier Estimate is routinely used in all survival analyses. The number of patients entered on most studies is usually small enough to permit the calculation of the Kaplan-Meier Estimate at each time of death using a pocket calculator. In larger samples the calculations can be easily programmed on a computer.