1. TreeAge Software
  2. Community
  3. Ask questions of the modelling community

"probabilistic tracker"

Avatar
Keith Sigel

Hi -

I wanted to see if it is possible to embed a probabilistic event within a tracker -- I want to move the development of cancer into a tracker as it would markedly simplify my model structure -- so the basic structure would be a microsimulated subject has a monthly probability of cancer development and the subject's tracker modifies to 1 from 0 based on that probability each time it moves through that state. 

I wanted to see if that is possible and what the syntax would be.

Thanks!

Keith

0

Comments

1 comment
Sort by Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Avatar
    Andrew Munzer

    You can create a uniform distribution from 0 to 1, then compare a new sample of that distribution to a probability to see if cancer has developed.

    Let's assume the following.

    • The uniform distribution has index 11. We need the index rather than the name to use the DistForce function.
    • The probability of cancer uses variable pCancer.
    • The tracker for cancer is t_cancer.

    Use the following tracker modification to test for cancer.

    • t_cancer = if(DistForce(11)<=pCancer; 1; 0)

    Just remember not to perform that check again if the person already has cancer or it could reset the cancer tracker back to 0.

    Andrew

    Comment actions Permalink

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

New post