Abstract

Mendelian randomisation uses genetic variation as a natural experiment to investigate the causal relations between potentially modifiable risk factors and health outcomes in observational data. As with all epidemiological approaches, findings from Mendelian randomisation studies depend on specific assumptions. We provide explanations of the information typically reported in Mendelian randomisation studies that can be used to assess the plausibility of these assumptions and guidance on how to interpret findings from Mendelian randomisation studies in the context of other sources of evidence

Keywords

ChecklistMendelian inheritanceObservational studyContext (archaeology)Mendelian randomizationPsychologyMedicineCognitive psychologyGenetic variantsBiologyGeneticsPathology

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Publication Info

Year
2018
Type
article
Volume
362
Pages
k601-k601
Citations
4381
Access
Closed

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Neil M Davies, Michael V. Holmes, George Davey Smith (2018). Reading Mendelian randomisation studies: a guide, glossary, and checklist for clinicians. BMJ , 362 , k601-k601. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k601

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DOI
10.1136/bmj.k601