Using Mendelian randomisation to assess causality in observational studies.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Mendelian randomisation (MR) is a technique that aims to assess causal effects of exposures on disease outcomes. The paper aims to present the main assumptions that underlie MR, the statistical methods used to estimate causal effects and how to account for potential violations of the key assumptions.

Methods

We discuss the key assumptions that should be satisfied in an MR setting. We list the statistical methodologies used in two-sample MR when summary data are available to estimate causal effects (ie, Wald ratio estimator, inverse-variance weighted and maximum likelihood method) and identify/adjust for potential violations of MR assumptions (ie, MR-Egger regression and weighted Median approach). We also present statistical methods and graphical tools used to evalu

SUBMITTER: Pagoni P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10270458 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature