Dear Listers,

I am running relative survival analysis to explore disease status (yes vs. no) and have 4 categorical predictors in my model (age, sex, smoke and bmi). I am using stpm2 and would like to obtain 5-year relative survival associated with each predictor's categories.

i have 2 questions on this:

1) I am currently using meansurv as
stpm2 relapse i.sex i.age2 i.age3 i.age4 i.age5 i.smk2 i.smk3 i.bmi1 i.bmi3 i.bmi4, df(3) scale(hazard) bhazard(rate) eform tvc(agec2 agec3 agec4 agec5) dftvc(2)

g rs5 = 5
predict rs_sex1, surv timevar(rs5) at(sex 1)
predict rs_sex2, surv timevar(rs5) at(sex 2)
predict rs_age1, surv timevar(rs5) at(age 1)
etc...

I am using survival but in some example I have seen the use of meansurv - which one is appropriate in this case? what's teh main difference between surv and meansurv?

2) I noticed the estimated 5-year relative survival for the reference category of some predictors is identical - is this OK as it may reflect overall survival or am I doing something wrong?
for example age category 1 RS5= .45
and smoking category 1 RS5 = .45

Thanks in advance!