How can we best analyze events that occur repeatedly in medical studies? This paper reviews methods for analyzing repeated events in medical research, emphasizing the importance of addressing clinical questions directly. It considers both full models for event processes and simpler marginal assumptions. The treatment of dependent terminating events related to recurrent events is also discussed. Applying various methods of analysis to studies involving pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis patients, and bone metastases and skeletal events in cancer patients. It is found that the treatment of dependent terminating events related to recurrent events is also discussed. These methods provide researchers with effective tools for extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets, ultimately contributing to improved understanding and treatment strategies for various medical conditions. The methodology considered can be implemented with existing software.
Published in _Statistical Methods in Medical Research_, this paper directly aligns with the journal's focus on advancing statistical methodologies for medical applications. By presenting and comparing different approaches for analyzing repeated events, the research provides valuable guidance to medical researchers, fostering more robust and insightful data analysis in medical studies. This contribution emphasizes the journal's role in promoting methodological rigor in medical research.