Credible Mendelian Randomization Studies in the Presence of Selection Bias Using Control Exposures.

ABSTRACT: Selection bias is increasingly acknowledged as a limitation of Mendelian randomization (MR). However, few methods exist to assess this issue. We focus on two plausible causal structures relevant to MR studies and illustrate the data-generating process underlying selection bias via simulation studies. We conceptualize the use of control exposures to validate MR estimates derived from selected samples by detecting potential selection bias and reproducing the exposure-outcome association of primary interest based on subject matter knowledge. We discuss the criteria for choosing the control exposures. We apply the proposal in an MR study investigating the potential effect of higher transferrin with stroke (including ischemic and cardioembolic stroke) using transferrin saturation and iro

SUBMITTER: Yang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8652250 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature