Causal relationships between depression, emotional changes, and hiatal hernia: A Mendelian randomization analysis

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Psychiatry
• Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

• Hiatal hernia (HH) is a common condition often linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• The connection between psychological factors and HH development remains unclear.
• Previous research suggests a correlation between mental health issues and gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between mood swings, depression, and the risk of developing hiatal hernia (HH).
• To determine if HH causally influences mood swings or depression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
• Employed genetic variants from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as instrumental variables.
• Applied inverse variance weighting (IVW) with MR-Egger and weighted median sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• Mood swings, depression, feelings of tension, and feelings of misery were found to significantly increase the risk of HH.
• Odds ratios ranged from 1.007 to 1.019, with statistically significant p-values.
• Reverse MR analysis showed no causal effect of HH on the studied psychological states.

Conclusions:

• Mood swings, depression, tension, and misery are significant risk factors for hiatal hernia (HH).
• Psychological well-being should be considered in HH management and prevention strategies.
• Findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health in gastrointestinal care.