Kaplan-Meier methods yielded misleading results in competing risk scenarios.
OBJECTIVE
Time-to-event curves are routinely presented in the medical literature. The most widely used method is the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method, but this analysis approach may not be appropriate when an analysis focuses on time-to-first event in scenarios where there are competing events. We compared K-M methods applying various censoring approaches with the lesser-known "cumulative incidence competing risks" (CICR) method in an analysis of competing events.


METHODS
A registry containing data on 21,624 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization was analyzed. Time to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was assessed in an analysis for which percutaneous coronary intervention and death were competing events. Time-to-CABG curves were calculated using the "K-M censor all method," "K-M censor death only method," "K-M ignore all method," and the CICR method.


RESULTS
One-year CABG rates calculated for the K-M "censor all," "censor death only," and "ignore all" methods were 28.8%, 22.8%, and 22.4%, respectively compared to the "actual" rate of 20.8%. For the CICR method, the corresponding 1-year rate was identical to the "actual" rate.


CONCLUSIONS
In situations with competing risks, and where an analysis focuses on first events, the CICR method is most appropriate, as K-M methods will tend to overestimate event rates.
Southern
Danielle A
DA
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Faris
Peter D
PD
Brant
Rollin
R
Galbraith
P Diane
PD
Norris
Colleen M
CM
Knudtson
Merril L
ML
Ghali
William A
WA
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D016019:Survival Analysis