Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza

Background: Allergic diseases and influenza share similar genetic backgrounds and pathophysiological mechanisms. Observational studies have established a correlation between these 2 conditions; however, the precise direction of the causal relationship remains unclear. This Mendelian randomization (M...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hui Li, BSc, Yanping Zong, BSc, Lei He, BSc, Yujie Sun, BSc, Weibing Shi, MD, Jinchen Guo, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:World Allergy Organization Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000547
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849434702584217600
author Hui Li, BSc
Yanping Zong, BSc
Lei He, BSc
Yujie Sun, BSc
Weibing Shi, MD
Jinchen Guo, MD
author_facet Hui Li, BSc
Yanping Zong, BSc
Lei He, BSc
Yujie Sun, BSc
Weibing Shi, MD
Jinchen Guo, MD
author_sort Hui Li, BSc
collection DOAJ
description Background: Allergic diseases and influenza share similar genetic backgrounds and pathophysiological mechanisms. Observational studies have established a correlation between these 2 conditions; however, the precise direction of the causal relationship remains unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aims to evaluate the causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza. Materials and methods: This study utilized summary statistical data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and employed the two-sample MR method to comprehensively analyze the causal relationships between allergic diseases (asthma, hay fever, eczema), atopic dermatitis (AD), hay fever or allergic rhinitis (AR), and different types of influenza (including all influenza, regular influenza excluding pneumonia, and severe influenza that encompasses both influenza and pneumonia) using genetic factors as instrumental variables. The analysis primarily relied on the inverse variance weighted random effects model (IVW-RE). Results: The IVW-RE analysis revealed significant correlations between allergic diseases (asthma, hay fever, or eczema) and both all influenza and severe influenza (influenza and pneumonia). Additionally, AR (hay fever or allergic rhinitis) was associated with both all influenza and regular influenza (excluding pneumonia). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between asthma and severe influenza (influenza and pneumonia). However, there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between AD and influenza. Conclusion: The results of this MR study support a causal relationship between allergic diseases, asthma, and influenza, including severe influenza. This finding suggests that allergic diseases and asthma are significant risk factors for influenza. Additionally, this study provides high-quality causal evidence that can inform clinical practices aimed at preventing the onset of influenza, particularly in populations with respiratory allergies and asthma.
format Article
id doaj-art-b01e93ab25264bdfb0ae5967e36e2ec6
institution Kabale University
issn 1939-4551
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series World Allergy Organization Journal
spelling doaj-art-b01e93ab25264bdfb0ae5967e36e2ec62025-08-20T03:26:34ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512025-07-0118710107710.1016/j.waojou.2025.101077Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenzaHui Li, BSc0Yanping Zong, BSc1Lei He, BSc2Yujie Sun, BSc3Weibing Shi, MD4Jinchen Guo, MD5Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, ChinaCenter for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, ChinaCenter for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, ChinaCenter for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, ChinaCenter for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China; Corresponding author. The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; Corresponding author. Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modemization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.Background: Allergic diseases and influenza share similar genetic backgrounds and pathophysiological mechanisms. Observational studies have established a correlation between these 2 conditions; however, the precise direction of the causal relationship remains unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aims to evaluate the causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza. Materials and methods: This study utilized summary statistical data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and employed the two-sample MR method to comprehensively analyze the causal relationships between allergic diseases (asthma, hay fever, eczema), atopic dermatitis (AD), hay fever or allergic rhinitis (AR), and different types of influenza (including all influenza, regular influenza excluding pneumonia, and severe influenza that encompasses both influenza and pneumonia) using genetic factors as instrumental variables. The analysis primarily relied on the inverse variance weighted random effects model (IVW-RE). Results: The IVW-RE analysis revealed significant correlations between allergic diseases (asthma, hay fever, or eczema) and both all influenza and severe influenza (influenza and pneumonia). Additionally, AR (hay fever or allergic rhinitis) was associated with both all influenza and regular influenza (excluding pneumonia). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between asthma and severe influenza (influenza and pneumonia). However, there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between AD and influenza. Conclusion: The results of this MR study support a causal relationship between allergic diseases, asthma, and influenza, including severe influenza. This finding suggests that allergic diseases and asthma are significant risk factors for influenza. Additionally, this study provides high-quality causal evidence that can inform clinical practices aimed at preventing the onset of influenza, particularly in populations with respiratory allergies and asthma.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000547Allergic diseaseAtopic dermatitisAllergic rhinitisAsthmaInfluenzaMendelian randomization
spellingShingle Hui Li, BSc
Yanping Zong, BSc
Lei He, BSc
Yujie Sun, BSc
Weibing Shi, MD
Jinchen Guo, MD
Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
World Allergy Organization Journal
Allergic disease
Atopic dermatitis
Allergic rhinitis
Asthma
Influenza
Mendelian randomization
title Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
title_full Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
title_fullStr Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
title_full_unstemmed Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
title_short Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
title_sort mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal relationship between allergic diseases and influenza
topic Allergic disease
Atopic dermatitis
Allergic rhinitis
Asthma
Influenza
Mendelian randomization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000547
work_keys_str_mv AT huilibsc mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza
AT yanpingzongbsc mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza
AT leihebsc mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza
AT yujiesunbsc mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza
AT weibingshimd mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza
AT jinchenguomd mendelianrandomizationanalysisrevealscausalrelationshipbetweenallergicdiseasesandinfluenza