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mccount (version 0.1.1)

get_time_to_mcc: Get Time When MCC Reaches a Specific Threshold

Description

Helper function that identifies the first time point when the Mean Cumulative Count (MCC) reaches or exceeds the threshold. An MCC value of the threshold represents the time when the population experiences an average of <threshold> event(s).

Usage

get_time_to_mcc(mcc_data, mcc_column, threshold = 1)

Value

A numeric value representing the time when MCC first reaches or exceeds the threshold, or NA_real_ if MCC never reaches threshold

during the observed follow-up period.

Arguments

mcc_data

A data frame containing MCC estimates over time. This is typically the mcc_final component from an mcc object.

mcc_column

A string specifying the name of the column containing MCC values. For method = "equation", this is typically "mcc". For method = "sci", this is typically "SumCIs".

threshold

numeric;determines MCC value threshold to use (default = 1.0)

Details

The MCC represents the expected cumulative number of events per person in the population initially at risk. When MCC = threshold, this indicates that the population has experienced an average of 1 event per person. This milestone can be useful for:

  • Identifying when the event burden reaches clinical or epidemiological significance

  • Comparing event timing across different exposure groups or populations

  • Setting thresholds for intervention planning

Note that MCC values can exceed threshold, indicating more than threshold number of events per person on average, which distinguishes it from probability-based measures like cumulative incidence that are bounded between 0 and 1.