Modelling spatial variation in leukaemia survival data.

Henderson, Robin and Shimakura, S. and Gorst, D. (2002) Modelling spatial variation in leukaemia survival data. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 97 (460). pp. 965-972. ISSN 1537-274X

Abstract

In this article we combine ideas from spatial statistics with lifetime data analysis techniques to investigate possible spatial variation in survival of adult acute myeloid leukemia patients in northwest England. Exploratory analysis suggests both clinically and statistically significant variation in survival rates across the region. A multivariate gamma frailty model incorporating spatial dependence is proposed and applied, with results confirming the dependence of hazard on location.