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MendelianRandomization: an R package for performing Mendelian randomization analyses using summarized data

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Yavorska, Olena O 

Abstract

MendelianRandomization is a software package for the R open-source software environment that performs Mendelian randomization analyses using summarized data. The core functionality is to implement the inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger and weighted median methods for multiple genetic variants. Several options are available to the user, such as the use of robust regression, fixed- or random-effects models and the penalization of weights for genetic variants with heterogeneous causal estimates. Extensions to these methods, such as allowing for variants to be correlated, can be chosen if appropriate. Graphical commands allow summarized data to be displayed in an interactive graph, or the plotting of causal estimates from multiple methods, for comparison. Although the main method of data entry is directly by the user, there is also an option for allowing summarized data to be incorporated from the PhenoScanner database of genotype—phenotype associations. We hope to develop this feature in future versions of the package. The R software environment is available for download from [https://www.r-project.org/]. The MendelianRandomization package can be downloaded from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) within R, or directly from [https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/MendelianRandomization/]. Both R and the Mendelian Rand omization package are released under GNU General Public Licenses (GPL-2|GPL-3).

Description

Keywords

Mendelian randomization, causal inference, data parasite, instrumental variable, summarized data, two-sample

Journal Title

International Journal of Epidemiology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0300-5771
1464-3685

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G0700463)
Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1)
Wellcome Trust (100114/Z/12/Z)
British Heart Foundation (None)
Wellcome Trust (204623/Z/16/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00002/7)
Medical Research Council (G0700463/1)
Stephen Burgess is funded by a fellowship from the Wellcome Trust (grant number 100114).