Competing risks analysis

Competing risks analysis is a statistical method used to evaluate the likelihood of different possible events that can prevent the primary event of interest from happening. For example, if studying how long patients survive after treatment, death from unrelated causes (like a heart attack) is a competing risk that can affect the analysis. This approach accounts for these alternative outcomes, providing a more accurate understanding of the actual probability of the event we’re focused on. It helps in making informed decisions by considering all possible events that could occur, rather than just one isolated outcome.