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Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wienke, A; Yashin, AI; Christensen, K; Skytthe, A
Published in: Statistical Modeling
January 1, 2002

A mixture model in multivariate survival analysis is presented, whereby heterogeneity among subjects creates divergent paths for the individual’s risk of experiencing an event (i.e., disease), as well as for the associated length of survival. Dependence among competing risks is included and rendered testable. This method is an extension of the bivariate correlated gamma-frailty model. It is applied to a data set on Danish twins, for whom cause-specific mortality is known. The use of multivariate data solves the identifiability problem which is inherent in the competing risk model of univariate lifetimes. We analyse the influence of genetic and environmental factors on frailty. Using a sample of 1470 monozygotic (MZ) and 2730 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs, we apply five genetic models to the associated mortality data, focusing particularly on death from coronary heart disease (CHD). Using the best fitting model, the inheritance risk of death from CHD was 0.39 (standard error 0.13). The results from this model are compared with the results from earlier analysis that used the restricted model, where the independence of competing risks was assumed. Comparing both cases, it turns out, that heritability of frailty on mortality due to CHD change substantially. Despite the inclusion of dependence, analysis confirms the significant genetic component to an individual’s risk of mortality from CHD. Whether dependence or independence is assumed, the best model for analysis with regard to CHD mortality risks is a model assuming that additive factors are responsible for heritability in susceptibility to CHD. The paper ends with a discussion of limitations and possible further extensions to the model presented. © 2002, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Statistical Modeling

DOI

ISSN

1471-082X

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

2

Issue

2

Start / End Page

89 / 102

Related Subject Headings

  • Statistics & Probability
  • 4905 Statistics
  • 3802 Econometrics
  • 1403 Econometrics
  • 0104 Statistics
 

Citation

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Wienke, A., Yashin, A. I., Christensen, K., & Skytthe, A. (2002). Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data. Statistical Modeling, 2(2), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1191/1471082x02st030oa
Wienke, A., A. I. Yashin, K. Christensen, and A. Skytthe. “Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data.” Statistical Modeling 2, no. 2 (January 1, 2002): 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1191/1471082x02st030oa.
Wienke A, Yashin AI, Christensen K, Skytthe A. Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data. Statistical Modeling. 2002 Jan 1;2(2):89–102.
Wienke, A., et al. “Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data.” Statistical Modeling, vol. 2, no. 2, Jan. 2002, pp. 89–102. Scopus, doi:10.1191/1471082x02st030oa.
Wienke A, Yashin AI, Christensen K, Skytthe A. Genetic analysis of cause of death in a mixture model of bivariate lifetime data. Statistical Modeling. 2002 Jan 1;2(2):89–102.
Journal cover image

Published In

Statistical Modeling

DOI

ISSN

1471-082X

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

2

Issue

2

Start / End Page

89 / 102

Related Subject Headings

  • Statistics & Probability
  • 4905 Statistics
  • 3802 Econometrics
  • 1403 Econometrics
  • 0104 Statistics