Simulating time-to-event data from parametric distributions, custom distributions, competing-risks models, and general multistate models

Abstract

In this article, I describe some substantial extensions to the survsim command for simulating survival data. survsim can now simulate survival data from a parametric distribution, a custom or user-defined distribution, a fitted merlin model, a specified cause-specific hazards competing-risks model, or a specified general multistate model (with multiple timescales). Left-truncation (delayed entry) is now also available for all settings. I illustrate the survsim command with some examples, demonstrating the huge flexibility that can be used to better evaluate statistical methods.