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Updated: May 29, 2026
05:37
An R-Based Landscape Validation of a Competing Risk Model
Published on: September 16, 2022
Competing risks and the clinical community: irrelevance or ignorance?
Michael T Koller1, Heike Raatz, Ewout W Steyerberg
1Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. kollerm@uhbs.ch
Statistics in Medicine
|September 29, 2011
Summary
As populations age, clinical research increasingly involves elderly and multimorbid individuals. Competing risks methodology is crucial for accurate interpretation of clinical outcomes in these complex patient groups.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Research
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Global life expectancy has increased, leading to aging populations.
- Elderly and multimorbid individuals are increasingly represented in clinical studies.
- These populations present unique challenges due to multiple potential disease endpoints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the translational aspects of competing risks methodology for the clinical community.
- To identify clinical scenarios where competing risks are relevant.
- To emphasize the importance of aligning statistical methods with research aims.
Main Methods:
- Review of 50 clinical studies in high-impact journals involving individuals susceptible to competing risks.
- Analysis of the application and recognition of competing risks in published research.
- Discussion of the distinction between etiologic and prognostic research questions.
Main Results:
- Competing risks issues were identified in 70% of reviewed clinical studies.
- Recognition of competing risks in the clinical community is considered marginal.
- A significant gap exists between methodological advancements and clinical application.
Conclusions:
- There is a need for greater awareness of competing risks in clinical research.
- Appropriate statistical methods for competing risks must be recognized and applied.
- Aligning methodology with study aims is critical for valid clinical research in aging populations.
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