Application of the Instrumental Inequalities to a Mendelian Randomization Study With Multiple Proposed Instruments.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Investigators often support the validity of Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, an instrumental variable approach proposing genetic variants as instruments, via. subject matter knowledge. However, the instrumental variable model implies certain inequalities, offering an empirical method of falsifying (but not verifying) the underlying assumptions. Although these inequalities are said to detect only extreme assumption violations in practice, to our knowledge they have not been used in settings with multiple proposed instruments.

Methods

We applied the instrumental inequalities to an MR analysis of the effect of maternal pregnancy vitamin D on offspring psychiatric outcomes, proposing four independent maternal genetic variants as instruments. We assessed whether t

SUBMITTER: Diemer EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6889903 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature