My SciELO
Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
- Cited by SciELO
- Access statistics
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in SciELO
- Similars in Google
Share
Gaceta Sanitaria
Print version ISSN 0213-9111
Abstract
ANCIRA-MORENO, Mónica; SMITH, Natalia and LAMADRID-FIGUEROA, Héctor. Scope of Mendelian randomization to control for unobserved confounding in epidemiology. Gac Sanit [online]. 2022, vol.36, n.3, pp.274-277. Epub Sep 30, 2022. ISSN 0213-9111. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.01.008.
The Mendelian randomization is an epidemiologic method proposed to control for spurious associations in observational studies. These associations are commonly caused by confusion derived from social, environmental, and behavioral factors, which can be difficult to measure. Mendelian randomization is based on the selection of genetic variants that are used as instrumental variables that influence exposure patterns or are associated with an intermediate phenotype of the disease. The present work aims to discuss how to select the appropriate genetic variants as instrumental variables and to present methodological tools to deal with the limitations of this epidemiological method. The use of instrumental variables for modifiable exposures has the potential to mitigate the effects of common limitations, such as confusion, when robust genetic variants are chosen as instrumental variables.
Keywords : Mendelian randomization; Epidemiologic methods; Bias; Confounding; Genetics; Instrumental variables.