Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices

Ahmed S BaHammam,1,2 Haitham Jahrami3,4 1The University Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Psychiatry, Government Hospitals, Ma...

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Main Authors: BaHammam AS, Jahrami H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2024-11-01
Series:Nature and Science of Sleep
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/navigating-mendelian-randomization-in-sleep-medicine-challenges-opport-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS
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author BaHammam AS
Jahrami H
author_facet BaHammam AS
Jahrami H
author_sort BaHammam AS
collection DOAJ
description Ahmed S BaHammam,1,2 Haitham Jahrami3,4 1The University Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Psychiatry, Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain; 4Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BahrainCorrespondence: Ahmed S BaHammam, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University Sleep Disorders Center, King Saud University, Box 225503, Riyadh, 11324, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966-11-467-9495, Fax +966-11-467-9179, Email ashammam2@gmail.comAbstract: Mendelian randomization (MR) has become an influential method for elucidating causal links between sleep traits and disorders, and health outcomes. This article provides sleep medicine specialists with an overview of MR, emphasizing its applications and limitations in health research, particularly in the context of sleep research. The article addresses key challenges in conducting and interpreting MR studies on sleep, focusing on the core assumptions of relevance, exchangeability, and exclusion restriction. The importance of proper genetic instrument selection, bias mitigation, and cautious result interpretation is emphasized. Strategies are recommended to enhance the quality of MR studies in sleep medicine, including collaborations between MR experts and sleep specialists. The paper also explores sleep medicine-specific issues like analyzing binary traits and addressing heterogeneity in pooled analyses. Guidance is provided on transparent reporting of MR findings, stressing the need for comprehensive effect estimates, confidence intervals, and p-values. We conclude by advocating for rigorous MR implementation in sleep research to deepen our understanding of sleep-health relationships. By following best practices in study design, analysis, and reporting, researchers can reinforce the credibility and impact of MR findings in sleep medicine, ultimately improving patient care and public health strategies.Keywords: causal inference, genetic epidemiology, pleiotropy, GWAS, sleep disorders
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spelling doaj-art-1009bade6b9c461c94920f7acd5e1c172025-08-20T01:58:31ZengDove Medical PressNature and Science of Sleep1179-16082024-11-01Volume 161811182597570Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best PracticesBaHammam ASJahrami HAhmed S BaHammam,1,2 Haitham Jahrami3,4 1The University Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Psychiatry, Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain; 4Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BahrainCorrespondence: Ahmed S BaHammam, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University Sleep Disorders Center, King Saud University, Box 225503, Riyadh, 11324, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966-11-467-9495, Fax +966-11-467-9179, Email ashammam2@gmail.comAbstract: Mendelian randomization (MR) has become an influential method for elucidating causal links between sleep traits and disorders, and health outcomes. This article provides sleep medicine specialists with an overview of MR, emphasizing its applications and limitations in health research, particularly in the context of sleep research. The article addresses key challenges in conducting and interpreting MR studies on sleep, focusing on the core assumptions of relevance, exchangeability, and exclusion restriction. The importance of proper genetic instrument selection, bias mitigation, and cautious result interpretation is emphasized. Strategies are recommended to enhance the quality of MR studies in sleep medicine, including collaborations between MR experts and sleep specialists. The paper also explores sleep medicine-specific issues like analyzing binary traits and addressing heterogeneity in pooled analyses. Guidance is provided on transparent reporting of MR findings, stressing the need for comprehensive effect estimates, confidence intervals, and p-values. We conclude by advocating for rigorous MR implementation in sleep research to deepen our understanding of sleep-health relationships. By following best practices in study design, analysis, and reporting, researchers can reinforce the credibility and impact of MR findings in sleep medicine, ultimately improving patient care and public health strategies.Keywords: causal inference, genetic epidemiology, pleiotropy, GWAS, sleep disordershttps://www.dovepress.com/navigating-mendelian-randomization-in-sleep-medicine-challenges-opport-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSScausal inferencegenetic epidemiologypleiotropygwassleep disorders
spellingShingle BaHammam AS
Jahrami H
Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
Nature and Science of Sleep
causal inference
genetic epidemiology
pleiotropy
gwas
sleep disorders
title Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
title_full Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
title_fullStr Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
title_full_unstemmed Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
title_short Navigating Mendelian Randomization in Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
title_sort navigating mendelian randomization in sleep medicine challenges opportunities and best practices
topic causal inference
genetic epidemiology
pleiotropy
gwas
sleep disorders
url https://www.dovepress.com/navigating-mendelian-randomization-in-sleep-medicine-challenges-opport-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS
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