mstate_data_expanded: Data in long format, possibly with expanded covariates (as obtained by running mstate::expand.covs).
which_group: A character vector with the same meaning as the groups argument of the function CoxRFX but named (with the covariate names).
patient_IDs: The IDs of the patients whose cumulative hazards and transition probabilities one wishes to estimate.
initial_state: The initial state for which transition probability estimates should be computed
tmat: Transition matrix for the multi-state model, as obtained by running mstate::transMat
time_model: The model of time-dependency: either 'clockforward' or 'clockreset'.
backup_file: Path to file. Objects generated while the present function is running are stored in this file. This avoids losing all estimates if and when the algorithm breaks down. See argument input_file.
input_file: Path to backup_file (see argument backup_file). If this argument is given, all other arguments should be NULL.
coxrfx_args: Named list with arguments to the CoxRFX function other than Z,surv and groups.
msfit_args: Named list with arguments to the msfit_generic.coxrfx function other than object,newdata and trans.
probtrans_args: Named list with arguments to the probtrans_ebmstate function other than initia_state,cumhaz and model.
Returns
A list with: 95% bootstrap intervals for each regression coefficient and for transition probabilities; bootstrap samples of regression coefficients, cumulative hazards and transition probabilities.
Details
In a given bootstrap sample there might not be enough information to generate estimates for all coefficients. If a covariate has little or no variation in a given bootstrap sample, no estimate of its coefficient will be computed. The present function will keep taking bootstrap samples until every coefficient has been estimated at least min_nr_samples times.