A random forest-based approach for survival curves comparing: principles, computational aspects and asymptotic time complexity analysis
Lubomír Štěpánek, Filip Habarta, Ivana Malá, Luboš Marek · Annals of Computer Science and Information Systems · 2021
The log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazard model can be used to compare survival curves but are limited by strict statistical assumptions.In this study, we introduce a novel, assumption-free method based on a random forest algorithm able to compare two or more survival curves.A proportion of the random forest's trees with sufficient complexity is close to the test's p-value estimate.The pruning of trees in the model modifies trees' complexity and, thus, both the method's robustness and statistical power.The discussed results are confirmed using a simulation study, varying the survival curves and the tree pruning level.