Joint models are rich and flexible models for analyzing longitudinal data with nonignorable missing data mechanisms. This article proposes a Bayesian random-effects joint model to assess the evolution of a longitudinal process in terms of a linear mixed-effects model that accounts for heterogeneity between the subjects, serial correlation, and measurement error. Dropout is modeled in terms of a survival model with competing risks and left truncation. The model is applied to data coming from ReVaPIR, a project involving children with chronic kidney disease whose evolution is mainly assessed through longitudinal measurements of glomerular filtration rate.
Keywords: Competing risks; left truncation; longitudinal data; non-ignorable dropout; random-effect joint models.