Diabetes and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Epidemiology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus, encompassing type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM), is a complex metabolic disorder.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder characterized by brief episodes of vertigo.
• Previous research has suggested a potential association between diabetes and BPPV, but a genetic basis remains unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential genetic causal relationship between type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
• To examine the potential genetic causal relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
• To utilize a two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) approach to assess causality at the genetic level.

Main Methods:

• A two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the FinnGen database.
• Genetic variants associated with T1DM, T2DM, and BPPV were identified.
• The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis, with weighted median, MR-Egger, and other methods used for sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• The IVW analysis did not reveal a significant genetic association between T1DM and BPPV (P = .151).
• Similarly, no significant genetic association was found between T2DM and BPPV (P = .282).
• Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger intercept and Cochran's Q tests, confirmed the robustness of these findings and indicated no significant pleiotropy or heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• This study found no evidence of a genetic causal relationship between type 1 diabetes and BPPV.
• This study found no evidence of a genetic causal relationship between type 2 diabetes and BPPV.
• The genetic underpinnings of any observed epidemiological association between diabetes and BPPV require further investigation.