Kaplan-Meier Survival Analysis

Synonyms

Kaplan–Meier product limit estimator; Life table estimates; Time-to-event analysis

Definition

Kaplan–Meier survival analysis is a nonparametric method of summarizing survival event probabilities in tabular and graphical form.

Characteristics

Often, the focus of cancer epidemiology studies is on measurement of disease-free survival time (see also epidemiology of cancer). For example, the success of a breast cancer treatment might be discussed in terms of time-until-relapse or cancer-free survival time. To measure time effectively, a meaningful origin is chosen such as birth, first diagnosis of cancer, beginning of treatment, or last known occurrence of the disease. In a randomized study or clinical trial, we might begin measuring time at the point of randomization to treatment. Typically, time is measured prospectively in a survival study in contrast to the retrospective measurement of exposure in the case–control association study.

The outcome of interest is often measured as...