PULMONOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
A Causal Inference Study on the Impact of Asthma on the Onset of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization
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Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Ganzhou People's Hospital; The Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital ,Jiang xi Medical College, Nanchang University,No. 16, Meiguan Avenue, Zhanggong, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, P.R. China, China
Submission date: 2024-08-05
Final revision date: 2024-11-18
Acceptance date: 2024-12-03
Online publication date: 2025-02-22
Corresponding author
Wusheng Liu
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Ganzhou People's Hospital; The Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital ,Jiang xi Medical College, Nanchang University,No. 16, Meiguan Avenue, Zhanggong, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, P.R. China, China
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ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Respiratory diseases have long been a focus of research in the field of public health, posing a serious threat to the health of the global population ,Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are two common respiratory ailments with overlapping pathogenesis.
Material and methods:
In this study, utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach and analyzing publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets, we explored the causal impact of asthma on the onset of COPD. Using genetic instrumental variables associated with asthma (p < 5 × 10⁻⁸) and applying multiple MR methods (IVW, MR-Egger, and weighted median), we identified a significant causal relationship between asthma and COPD. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method indicated that asthma increases the risk of developing COPD with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.58, p = 0.002).
Results:
Additionally, multivariable MR analysis was performed to account for potential confounders, such as eosinophil count, smoking, and falls, which demonstrated that the association remains significant even after adjusting for these factors (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08–1.50, p = 0.004).
Conclusions:
This study provides robust evidence supporting the causal link between asthma and COPD, offering a more comprehensive understanding of their relationship.
Keywords: Asthma, GWAS, Mendelian Randomization, Causal Relationship, COPD, Environmental Exposure Factors