Mendelian randomisation studies for causal inference in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A narrative review
Zizheng Chen,
Yuqiong Yang,
Chusheng Peng,
Zifei Zhou,
Fengyan Wang,
Chengyu Miao,
Xueping Li,
Mingdie Wang,
Shengchuan Feng,
Tingnan Chen,
Rongchang Chen,
Zhenyu Liang
Affiliations
Zizheng Chen
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Yuqiong Yang
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Chusheng Peng
Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Zifei Zhou
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Fengyan Wang
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Chengyu Miao
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xueping Li
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Mingdie Wang
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Shengchuan Feng
Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Tingnan Chen
Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Rongchang Chen
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Zhenyu Liang
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Background and objective Most non-randomised controlled trials are unable to establish clear causal relationships in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to the presence of confounding factors. This review summarises the evidence that the Mendelian randomisation method can be a powerful tool for performing causal inferences in COPD.Methods A non-systematic search of English-language scientific literature was performed on PubMed using the following keywords: ‘Mendelian randomisation’, ‘COPD’, ‘lung function’, and ‘GWAS’. No date restrictions were applied. The types of articles selected included randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, observational studies, and reviews.Results Mendelian randomisation is becoming an increasingly popular method for identifying the risk factors of COPD. Recent Mendelian randomisation studies have revealed some risk factors for COPD, such as club cell secretory protein-16, impaired kidney function, air pollutants, asthma, and depression. In addition, Mendelian randomisation results suggest that genetically predicted factors such as PM2.5, inflammatory cytokines, growth differentiation factor 15, docosahexaenoic acid, and testosterone may have causal relationships with lung function.Conclusion Mendelian randomisation is a robust method for performing causal inferences in COPD research as it reduces the impact of confounding factors.
