COMPUTER-PROGRAM FOR LIFE TABLE REGRESSION-ANALYSIS WITH TIME-DEPENDENT COVARIATES

This paper presents a computer program for analyzing time-dependent covariables in survival studies by the life table regression model described by Holford [3]. Basically, life table regression incorporates the elements of regression and the life table into a single model. Regression parameters are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood using the Newton-Raphson iterative procedure. The program provides two methods for testing hypotheses concerning regression coefficients, namely the standard normal deviate test and a Wald statistic based on the first and second derivatives of the log likelihood. Residual plots are provided to assess the fit of the model to the data. © 1979.