Models and inference for on–off data via clipped Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes

Abstract

We introduce a model for recurrent event data subject to left‐, right‐, and intermittent‐censoring. The observations consist of binary sequences (along with covariates) for each individual under study. These sequences are modeled as generated by latent Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes being above or below certain thresholds. Features of the latent process and the thresholds are taken as functions of covariates, allowing the researcher to distinguish factors that have an effect on the frailty, from those that have an effect on the variability, of the observational unit. Inference is achieved by a quasi‐likelihood approach, for which consistency and asymptotic normality is established. An advantage of our model is that particularities regarding the censoring need not be taken actively into account, and that it is well suited for situations where the individuals under study are irregularly and asynchronously observed. The motivation for our model came from a dataset pertaining to the incidence of diarrhoea among Brazilian children growing up under rather harsh conditions. We analyze these data with our model and contrast the results with an intensity‐based counting process analysis of the same data.