Copula-frailty models for recurrent event data based on Monte Carlo EM algorithm

Multi-type recurrent events are often encountered in medical applications when two or more different event types could repeatedly occur over an observation period. For example, patients may experience recurrences of multi-type nonmelanoma skin cancers a clinical trial for cancer prevention. The aims those to characterize features the marginal processes, evaluate covariate effects, and quantify both within-subject recurrence dependence among types. We use copula-frailty models analyze correlated Parameter estimation inference carried out by using Monte Carlo expectation-maximization (MCEM) algorithm, which can handle relatively large (i.e. three more) number Performances proposed methods evaluated via extensive simulation studies. developed used model with