Weighted estimating equations for semiparametric transformation models with censored data from a case-cohort design

In a case-cohort design introduced by Prentice (1986), covariates are assembled only for a subcohort randomly selected from the entire cohort, and any additional cases outside the subcohort. Semiparametric transformation models are considered here for failure time data from the case-cohort design. Weighted estimating equations are proposed for estimation of the regression parameters. The estimation procedure of survival probability at given covariate levels is also provided. Asymptotic properties are derived for the estimators using finite population sampling theory, U-statistics theory and martingale convergence results. The finite-sample properties of the proposed estimators, as well as the efficiency relative to the full cohort estimators, are assessed via simulation studies. A case-cohort dataset from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study is used to illustrate the estimating procedure.