Publication Type:
journal articles
Publication Year:
2025
Publication Bibliography:
A Decision-Theoretic Method for Analyzing Crossing Survival Curves in Healthcare, Healthcare Analytics, December 2025
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Abstract:
The problem of crossing Kaplan-Meier curves has not been solved in the medical research literature to date. This paper integrates survival curve comparisons into decision theory, providing a theoretical framework and a solution to the problem of crossing Kaplan-Meier curves. The application of decision theory allows us to apply stochastic dominance concepts and risk preference attributes to compare treatments even when standard Kaplan-Meier curves cross. The paper shows that as additional risk preference attributes are adopted, Kaplan-Meier curves can be ranked under weaker restrictions, namely with higher orders of stochastic dominance. Consequently, even Kaplan-Meier curves that cross may be ranked. The method we present allows us to extract all possible information from survival functions; hence, superior treatments that cannot be identified using standard Kaplan-Meier curves may become identifiable. Our methodology is applied to two examples of published empirical medical studies. We show that treatments deemed non-comparable because their Kaplan-Meier curves intersect can be compared using our method.
Publication Reference Link:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.health.2025.100405
Break down of publication data into fields
Publication Title:
A Decision-Theoretic Method for Analyzing Crossing Survival Curves in Healthcare
Author Name:
Elie Appelbaum
Co-Author Name(s):
Moshe Leshno, Eitan Prisman and Eliezer Zeev Prisman.
Conference Title:
Report Title:
Title of Paper:
Chapter Title:
Title of Journal:
Healthcare Analytics
Title of Book:
Conference Name:
City and Province/State/Country:
Editor's Name (if different from Author's Name):
Volume and Issue:
ISBN/Catalogue No:
Publisher:
Elsevier Publishing company
City:
Page Number(s):
Publication Type:
Publication Category:
