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Bias due to participant overlap in two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Davies, Neil M 
Thompson, Simon G 

Abstract

Mendelian randomization analyses are often performed using summarized data. The causal estimate from a one-sample analysis (in which data are taken from a single data source) with weak instrumental variables is biased in the direction of the observational association between the risk factor and outcome, whereas the estimate from a two-sample analysis (in which data on the risk factor and outcome are taken from non-overlapping datasets) is less biased and any bias is in the direction of the null. When using genetic consortia that have partially overlapping sets of participants, the direction and extent of bias are uncertain. In this paper, we perform simulation studies to investigate the magnitude of bias and Type 1 error rate inflation arising from sample overlap. We consider both a continuous outcome and a case-control setting with a binary outcome. For a continuous outcome, bias due to sample overlap is a linear function of the proportion of overlap between the samples. So, in the case of a null causal effect, if the relative bias of the one-sample instrumental variable estimate is 10% (corresponding to an F parameter of 10), then the relative bias with 50% sample overlap is 5%, and with 30% sample overlap is 3%. In a case-control setting, if risk factor measurements are only included for the control participants, unbiased estimates are obtained even in a one-sample setting. However, if risk factor data on both control and case participants are used, then bias is similar with a binary outcome as with a continuous outcome. Consortia releasing publicly available data on the associations of genetic variants with continuous risk factors should provide estimates that exclude case participants from case-control samples.

Description

Keywords

Mendelian randomization, aggregated data, instrumental variables, summarized data, weak instrument bias, Bias, Case-Control Studies, Genetic Variation, Humans, Male, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Models, Genetic, Risk Factors

Journal Title

Genet Epidemiol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0741-0395
1098-2272

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G0800270)
Wellcome Trust (100114/Z/12/Z)
European Research Council (268834)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00002/7)
TCC (None)
Medical Research Council (G0800270/1)
Medical Research Council (Grant ID: G0800270), British Heart Foundation (Grant ID: SP/09/002), National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, European Research Council (Grant ID: 268834), European Commission Framework Programme 7 (Grant ID: HEALTH-F2-2012-279233), Wellcome Trust (Grant ID: 100114)