Causal relationships between potential risk factors and chronic rhinosinusitis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Epidemiology
• Causal Inference

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with several lifestyle and health factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, and obesity.
• The precise causal relationships between these factors and CRS remain unclear, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bidirectional causal effects between potential risk factors (smoking, alcohol, AR, asthma, obesity) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) using Mendelian randomization.
• To establish causal links that can inform clinical practice and understanding of CRS and asthma pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was employed.
• Genome-wide association study data for exposures (smoking, alcohol, AR, asthma, BMI) and outcome (CRS) were utilized.
• Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis, with weighted median and MR-Egger methods for sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger regression for pleiotropy detection.

Main Results:

• Significant causal effects were found for daily cigarette consumption (OR=1.15), allergic rhinitis (AR) (OR=4.77), asthma (OR=1.45), and body mass index (BMI) (OR=1.05) on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
• A significant causal effect of CRS on asthma was also identified (OR=1.08).
• No significant causal relationships were found between age of smoking initiation, weekly alcohol consumption, and CRS.

Conclusions:

• Daily cigarette consumption, AR, asthma, and BMI are confirmed causal risk factors for CRS.
• CRS is confirmed to have a causal effect on asthma.
• These findings provide robust evidence for the pathogenesis of CRS and asthma, guiding clinical interventions.