Penalized Cause-Specific Hazard Regression under Competing Risks: An Elastic Net Approach Using SANAD Trial Data

Abstract

Competing risks analysis is an important framework for studying time-to-event data in the presence of multiple, mutually exclusive events. Traditional methods, such as non-parametric estimators and proportional hazards models, may not adequately capture complex hazard patterns or provide stable estimates in practical settings. In this study, we propose a parametric approach based on the generalized exponential regression model for competing risks data. The model allows flexible hazard shapes and incorporates covariate effects through a regression structure. To improve estimation stability, we integrate elastic net regularization into the likelihood framework. The proposed method is evaluated through simulation studies and applied to a real dataset. The results indicate that the elastic net approach provides more stable and precise estimates compared to standard maximum likelihood estimation. Overall, the proposed framework offers a flexible and practical approach for analyzing competing risks data.