Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study

Background: Prior research indicates a potential connection between childhood maltreatment and asthma. In response, we designed a Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to further investigate this association.Methods: Utilizing the MR approach, we leveraged Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data fr...

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Main Authors: Zheng Zhang, Yating Wang, Jiazheng Li, Hao Ren, Xinglian Wang, Haitang Qiu, Huirong Luo, Xueqian Wang, Junyao Li, Renqin Hu, Yanwei Guo, Jinglan Tan, Chenggang Jiang, Qinghua Luo
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Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:European Journal of Psychotraumatology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2383127
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author Zheng Zhang
Yating Wang
Jiazheng Li
Hao Ren
Xinglian Wang
Haitang Qiu
Huirong Luo
Xueqian Wang
Junyao Li
Renqin Hu
Yanwei Guo
Jinglan Tan
Chenggang Jiang
Qinghua Luo
author_facet Zheng Zhang
Yating Wang
Jiazheng Li
Hao Ren
Xinglian Wang
Haitang Qiu
Huirong Luo
Xueqian Wang
Junyao Li
Renqin Hu
Yanwei Guo
Jinglan Tan
Chenggang Jiang
Qinghua Luo
author_sort Zheng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Prior research indicates a potential connection between childhood maltreatment and asthma. In response, we designed a Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to further investigate this association.Methods: Utilizing the MR approach, we leveraged Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data from the UK Biobank (UKB). Our primary outcome was asthma, analyzed through GWAS datasets termed AsthmaUKB and AsthmaIEU, sourced from two distinct studies. Additionally, we conducted stratified analyses focusing on pediatric asthma and adult asthma to address different asthma phenotypes. The causal impact of childhood maltreatment (CM) on asthma was assessed using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) methods, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO tests, thereby enhancing the robustness and generalizability of our findings.Results: The IVW analyses identified significant associations between CM and increased risks for AsthmaUKB (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.23–2.05, p < .001), AsthmaIEU (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02–1.06, p < .001), pediatric asthma (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.26–2.35, p = .001), and adult asthma (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.17–2.48, p = .005). The MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO results confirmed the absence of pleiotropy, reinforcing our causal inferences. Although Cochran’s Q test indicated some heterogeneity among asthma subtypes (p > .05), the robustness of the IVW results remains reliable.Conclusions: Our findings suggest a potential causal relationship between CM and various asthma phenotypes, as validated through rigorous Mendelian randomization analyses. These results emphasize the importance of considering CM in asthma prevention and intervention strategies and lay the groundwork for further investigation into how early-life adversities may predispose individuals to asthma, contributing to a deeper understanding of its etiological pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-c2a1cc3c69a9494aac84f8d16ad69e432025-08-20T03:06:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2024.2383127Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization studyZheng Zhang0Yating Wang1Jiazheng Li2Hao Ren3Xinglian Wang4Haitang Qiu5Huirong Luo6Xueqian Wang7Junyao Li8Renqin Hu9Yanwei Guo10Jinglan Tan11Chenggang Jiang12Qinghua Luo13Department of Sleep and Psychology, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaChongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaChongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaChongqing Changshou District, Mental Health Center, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Psychology, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Sleep and Psychology, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: Prior research indicates a potential connection between childhood maltreatment and asthma. In response, we designed a Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to further investigate this association.Methods: Utilizing the MR approach, we leveraged Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data from the UK Biobank (UKB). Our primary outcome was asthma, analyzed through GWAS datasets termed AsthmaUKB and AsthmaIEU, sourced from two distinct studies. Additionally, we conducted stratified analyses focusing on pediatric asthma and adult asthma to address different asthma phenotypes. The causal impact of childhood maltreatment (CM) on asthma was assessed using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) methods, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO tests, thereby enhancing the robustness and generalizability of our findings.Results: The IVW analyses identified significant associations between CM and increased risks for AsthmaUKB (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.23–2.05, p < .001), AsthmaIEU (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02–1.06, p < .001), pediatric asthma (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.26–2.35, p = .001), and adult asthma (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.17–2.48, p = .005). The MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO results confirmed the absence of pleiotropy, reinforcing our causal inferences. Although Cochran’s Q test indicated some heterogeneity among asthma subtypes (p > .05), the robustness of the IVW results remains reliable.Conclusions: Our findings suggest a potential causal relationship between CM and various asthma phenotypes, as validated through rigorous Mendelian randomization analyses. These results emphasize the importance of considering CM in asthma prevention and intervention strategies and lay the groundwork for further investigation into how early-life adversities may predispose individuals to asthma, contributing to a deeper understanding of its etiological pathways.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2383127Childhood maltreatmentasthmaMendelian randomizationcausal inferencegenome-wide association studiesMaltrato infantil
spellingShingle Zheng Zhang
Yating Wang
Jiazheng Li
Hao Ren
Xinglian Wang
Haitang Qiu
Huirong Luo
Xueqian Wang
Junyao Li
Renqin Hu
Yanwei Guo
Jinglan Tan
Chenggang Jiang
Qinghua Luo
Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Childhood maltreatment
asthma
Mendelian randomization
causal inference
genome-wide association studies
Maltrato infantil
title Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
title_full Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
title_fullStr Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
title_short Exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma: a Mendelian randomization study
title_sort exploring the causal link between childhood maltreatment and asthma a mendelian randomization study
topic Childhood maltreatment
asthma
Mendelian randomization
causal inference
genome-wide association studies
Maltrato infantil
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2383127
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