A limitation of genetic epidemiological analysis when associations are genuinely J-shaped illustrated using a prospective study of alcohol consumption and vascular disease.
Frost, Chris;
Wald, Nicholas;
(2021)
A limitation of genetic epidemiological analysis when associations are genuinely J-shaped illustrated using a prospective study of alcohol consumption and vascular disease.
International Journal of Epidemiology, 50 (6).
pp. 1757-1760.
ISSN 0300-5771
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab162
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Mendelian randomization, a commonly adopted approach in genetic epidemiology, is of value in distinguishing causal from non-causal associations. There are, however, limitations to the conclusions that can be drawn from this approach when the underlying relationship between an outcome and an exposure is non-linear. In this paper we explore a consequence of these limitations, illustrating these using a prospective epidemiological study of vascular disease in 500 000 Chinese people (the Kadoorie cohort).