Cumulative Incidence of Treatment Initiation  

What is cumulative incidence of treatment initiation? 

Cumulative incidence of treatment initiation refers to the proportion of individuals in a study who begin a specific treatment within a given time frame. It is often used in clinical research to assess the frequency of treatment initiation over time within a population, taking into account both the occurrence of treatment and the time until its initiation. Unlike simple event rates, cumulative incidence accounts for censoring, meaning individuals who have not initiated treatment by the end of the study are not overrepresented. 

Why is cumulative incidence of treatment initiation important? 

The cumulative incidence of treatment initiation is a valuable measure in clinical research, offering insights into how and when patients begin treatment. By accounting for censoring and competing risks, this metric helps evaluate treatment uptake, healthcare access, and the broader impact of medical interventions, making it essential for understanding treatment patterns in both clinical trials and real-world settings.