Multiple outcomes measured repeatedly for the same subject are common in longitudinal observation.If we use the approach by analyzing each outcome separately,it may lead to wrong conclusions due to the failure of accounting for joint evolution of different outcomes.To adequately capture the interdependence among multiple outcomes,we proposed a joint modeling for multivariate longitudinal data by constructing a linear mixed-effects model for each outcome and accommodating the relationship among multiple outcomes through correlation in random effects.Maximum likelihood method was adopted to estimate parameters in this model.The application of this method was demonstrated through the analysis of stroke data.

Objective:To investigate the status of hypoglycemia fear, diabetes distress, self-regulatory fatigue and self-management in type 2 diabetes patients. The chain mediating effects of self-regulated fatigue and psychological distress on hypoglycemic fear and self-management were investigated.Methods:The Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Worry Subscale (CHFSII-WS), Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale (SRF-S) and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) were used to investigate the type 2 diabetes patients from the department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital in Jinzhou Medical University. And constructed the structural equation model.Results:The scores of fear of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients were positively correlated with psychological pain and self-regulating fatigue ( r=0.739, 0.625, P<0.05), but negatively correlated with self-management level ( r=-0.602, P<0.05). The psychological pain score was positively correlated with the self-regulating fatigue score ( r=0.669, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the self-management level score ( r=-0.609, P<0.05). The score of self-regulation fatigue was negatively correlated with the score of self-management ( r=-0.596, P<0.05). Pathway analysis showed that hypoglycemia fear could directly affect self-management behavior, indirectly predict self-management level through self-regulation fatigue and psychological pain respectively, and negatively affect self-management behavior through chain mediation of self-regulation fatigue and psychological pain ( χ2/ df=3.079, GFI=0.920, CFI=0.961, NFI=0.943, IFI=0.961, RMSEA=0.078). Conclusions:The Self-regulated fatigue and psychological distress acts as the chain mediators of hypoglycemic fear and self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes.