Association Between Telomere Length and Risk of Cancer and Non-Neoplastic Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The causal direction and magnitude of the association between telomere length and incidence of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases is uncertain owing to the susceptibility of observational studies to confounding and reverse causation.

Objective

To conduct a Mendelian randomization study, using germline genetic variants as instrumental variables, to appraise the causal relevance of telomere length for risk of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases.

Data sources

Genomewide association studies (GWAS) published up to January 15, 2015.

Study selection

GWAS of noncommunicable diseases that assayed germline genetic variation and did not select cohort or control participants on the basis of preexisting diseases. Of 163 GWAS of noncommunicable diseases identified,

SUBMITTER: Telomeres Mendelian Randomization Collaboration 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5638008 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature