Overview: SURVEYPHREG Procedure

The SURVEYPHREG procedure performs regression analysis based on the Cox proportional hazards model for sample survey data. Cox’s semiparametric model is widely used in the analysis of survival data to estimate hazard rates when adequate explanatory variables are available. The procedure provides design-based variance estimates, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests concerning the parameters and model effects. See Chapter 3, Introduction to Statistical Modeling with SAS/STAT Software, and Chapter 14, Introduction to Survey Sampling and Analysis Procedures, for an introduction to the basic concepts of survey data analysis; see Chapter 13, Introduction to Survival Analysis Procedures, for an introduction to the basic concepts of survival analysis.

The survival time of each member of a finite population is assumed to follow its own hazard function, , expressed as

where is an arbitrary and unspecified baseline hazard function, is the vector of explanatory variables for the th population unit, and is the vector of unknown regression parameters.

The SURVEYPHREG procedure produces a sample-based estimate of finite-population proportional hazards regression parameters by maximizing the partial pseudo-log-likelihood based on observed covariates and observed survival time . The procedure also produces an estimate of the sampling variance , which assumes the values of the finite population are fixed. For statistical inference, PROC SURVEYPHREG incorporates complex survey sample designs, including designs with stratification, clustering, and unequal weighting. Several optimization techniques are available in SURVEYPHREG to maximize the log likelihood. Hazard ratio estimates can also be obtained along with parameter estimates. Sampling errors of the regression parameters and hazard ratios are computed by using either the Taylor series (linearization) method or one of the replication (resampling) methods that are based on complex sample designs (Binder; 1983; Wolter; 1985; Särndal, Swensson, and Wretman; 1992; Binder; 1992; Lohr; 2009; Fuller; 2009). These variance estimators essentially assume the finite population as fixed and estimate the variability due to the random sample selection mechanism.

The remaining sections of this chapter contain information about how to use PROC SURVEYPHREG, information about the underlying statistical methodology, and some applications of the procedure. The section Getting Started: SURVEYPHREG Procedure introduces PROC SURVEYPHREG with an example. The section Syntax: SURVEYPHREG Procedure describes the syntax of the procedure. The section Details: SURVEYPHREG Procedure summarizes the statistical techniques employed in PROC SURVEYPHREG. The section Examples: SURVEYPHREG Procedure includes some additional examples of useful applications. Experienced SAS/STAT software users might decide to proceed to the "Syntax" section, while other users might choose to read both the "Getting Started" and "Examples" sections before proceeding to "Syntax" and "Details."