Median Survival Time
- Used in clinical research to compare how different treatments affect how long groups live after an event or diagnosis.
- Offers information useful for prognosis and for making treatment or end-of-life care decisions.
- Summarizes the typical length of time a group is expected to survive following a specific event or diagnosis.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Median survival time is a measure of the length of time that a group of individuals are expected to live after a specific event or diagnosis. It is commonly used in medical research to assess the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention, as well as to provide information about prognosis for individuals with a particular condition.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Median survival time describes the expected survival length for a group following a defined event (for example, diagnosis or start of a treatment). In medical studies it serves as a summary measure to compare outcomes between groups and to communicate prognosis. Researchers and clinicians use it when evaluating whether an intervention changes the expected survival of a group and when informing patients, families, and care teams about likely survival after a condition is identified.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Comparing treatments in a clinical trial
Section titled “Comparing treatments in a clinical trial”A study on the effectiveness of a new cancer drug may compare the median survival time of a group of patients who receive the drug with a group of patients who receive standard treatment. If the median survival time for the group receiving the new drug is significantly longer than the median survival time for the group receiving standard treatment, this suggests that the new drug may be more effective at prolonging survival.
Prognosis in a terminal illness
Section titled “Prognosis in a terminal illness”If a group of individuals with a particular type of cancer are followed over time, the median survival time can provide information about how long the majority of individuals in the group are expected to live after their diagnosis. This information can be useful for individuals with the illness, as well as their families and healthcare providers, in making decisions about treatment and end-of-life care.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Assessing the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention in medical research.
- Providing information about prognosis for individuals with a particular condition.
- Informing decisions about treatment and end-of-life care.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Intervention
- Prognosis