MSM.app: An interactive Web tool for Survival Analysis and Advanced Multi-State Modeling

Abstract

The development of applications aimed at providing interpretable results in a concise and user-friendly manner within the framework of multi-state models represents a promising research avenue, particularly when leveraging open-source tools adaptable to biomedical contexts. This paper introduces MSM.app, an interactive web application constructed using the Shiny package for the R language. MSM.app is structured into two main components, each addressing distinct facets of survival analysis and its extension to intricate multi-state models. The first component allows users to perform classical survival analysis techniques using standard functions from R packages such as survival. The second component supports users in achieving key objectives in multi-state analysis, including the inference of regression models and the estimation of transition probabilities, by integrating with the survidm and mstate R packages. The web application employs dynamic web forms, tables, and graphics, harnessing the capabilities of the Shiny package. This architecture ensures that users, regardless of their level of expertise in informatics, can seamlessly engage in dynamic analyses encompassing critical aspects of multi-state models.