Multivariable Mendelian Randomization: The Use of Pleiotropic Genetic Variants to Estimate Causal Effects

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology Vol. 181; no. 4; pp. 251 - 260
• Main Authors: Burgess, Stephen, Thompson, Simon G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 15.02.2015; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Biomarkers - blood; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Causality; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - genetics; Epidemiology; Genetic Pleiotropy - genetics; Genetic variance; Genetic Variation - genetics; Genetics; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Lipids; Low density lipoprotein; Mathematical Computing; Mendelian Randomization Analysis - methods; Models, Genetic; Practice of Epidemiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Triglycerides - blood; United Kingdom - epidemiology; lipid fractions; epidemiologic methods; instrumental variables; Mendelian randomization; causal inference; pleiotropy

Abstract A conventional Mendelian randomization analysis assesses the causal effect of a risk factor on an outcome by using genetic variants that are solely associated with the risk factor of interest as instrumental variables. However, in some cases, such as the case of triglyceride level as a risk...